Maple Leafs Forward Matthew Knies Could Be on the Move This Summer, League Executives Say

The Toronto Maple Leafs might not be done making changes, and one of their own homegrown forwards could be the next guy out the door.

Matthew Knies nearly ended up with the Montreal Canadiens just before the 2026 trade deadline. Now, with the offseason approaching, multiple league executives think Knies gets dealt this summer. That’s according to TSN insider Darren Dreger, who dropped the news Wednesday.

“Depending on who you talk to, there are a number of NHL executives out there who believe that Matthew Knies will be traded,” Dreger said on TSN’s That’s Hockey with Gino Reda. “I don’t think you’re going to get anything as definitive as that from the Maple Leafs at this point, but John Chayka is definitely doing his due diligence, as are other clubs, finding out why Matthew Knies would be available for trade.”

Knies Working to Get Leaner and Faster

The 22-year-old winger has missed just nine regular-season games over the past three seasons, but injuries have still been a concern. Dreger says Knies is trying to drop some weight this summer to avoid those nagging issues.

“He was in the mid 230s, that was his playing weight. He’s a big power forward, but I think he believes he can be a little quicker if he gets into the 220s and maybe less injury prone,” Dreger said.

Knies is coming off a career year. He put up 35 points in 2023-24, jumped to 58 the next season, and then hit 66 points in 79 games last year with 152 hits. That kind of production and physicality makes him valuable, but it also means the Leafs aren’t going to give him away.

What Would the Return Look Like?

Both Dreger and fellow insider Nick Kypreos have indicated that Toronto’s asking price won’t be small. They’re reportedly looking for a top-pairing defenseman plus additional assets. That’s a steep price, but Knies has developed into one of the few young, cost-controlled forwards on the roster who can drive play and drop the gloves when needed.

The Leafs have been quiet about their intentions, but Dreger says conversations are ongoing with multiple teams showing serious interest.

“From a Toronto standpoint, you’re just fetching for whatever the best return can be,” Dreger added.

Whether another team actually meets that price will determine if this rumor turns into something real. For now, it’s one of the bigger storylines to follow as the draft and free agency approach.