Five teams remain for Matthews Knies and insider Nick Kypreos believes a trade will occur
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are hearing familiar trade buzz on Matthew Knies, and five teams are reportedly circling.
Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet reported that Chicago, Montreal, Buffalo, Dallas and Columbus have all checked in on Knies, and that the trade noise isn't slowing down.
Re Matthew Knies/Maple Leafs: "Chicago, Montreal, Buffalo and most recently Dallas and Columbus are poking around. With Knies having zero trade protection, I don't hear this trade noise on him slowing down."
- Nick Kypreos
- Nick Kypreos
One name on that list deserves a second look. Chicago already made its move this offseason, and it wasn't for Knies.
The Blackhawks sent their No. 4 overall pick, a 2026 second-round pick and Louis Crevier to Buffalo for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway.
Multiple reports say Chicago dangled that same fourth pick for Knies first, and Toronto turned it down.
General manager Kyle Davidson pivoted to Byram instead, and that decision tells you more than the fresh headline does.
Knies is coming off a career year, with 23 goals and 43 assists for 66 points in 79 games. He carries a $7.75 million cap hit on a six-year, $46.5 million deal that runs through 2030-31.
What the Byram trade actually reveals
Chicago spending its premium pick elsewhere is a signal, not a footnote. A team with real cap space and a rebuild to accelerate went shopping for a winger, priced out Knies, and walked away with a defenseman instead.
That's not a team still hunting Knies with fresh urgency. That's a team whose earlier pursuit already failed.
Why the list still matters anyway
Buffalo, Montreal, Dallas and Columbus checking in is separate and real, especially with Knies holding zero trade protection.
Montreal already tried once, reportedly offering Alexander Zharovsky and two first-round picks near the deadline before that deal fell apart.
Lumping Chicago back into the hot column overstates how live that specific thread is. GM John Chayka has indicated it would take a blow-your-socks-off offer to move Knies at all.
Until someone meets that price, expect Toronto to keep saying no to everyone still calling.
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