NHL analyst links Maple Leafs and Devils in swap of young stars

The 2025/26 NHL season has been full of surprises, but perhaps none more so than the struggles in the Eastern Conference of top teams, especially the New Jersey Devils and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After being post-season threats in recent years, they now rank 13th and 14th in the Eastern Conference respectively, and with their post-season hopes all but dashed, fans are gearing up for plenty of changes over the summer.

That's led to plenty of discussions about potential deals, with talks now mounting that these two teams could get something done, with a recent proposal built around young stars Matthew Knies and Simon Nemec.

That chatter picked up recently when Devils reporter Ryan Novozinsky noted that Nemec's time in New Jersey is quickly coming to an end, reiterating just how much interest the team have had in Knies over the past few years, with many linking the two parties.

At this point in time, it's unclear if a potential deal would be realistic, but with the Devils wanting more young stars up front while the Maple Leafs are desperate for a young blue liner, making this deal even more perfect for both squads.

Ultimately, Toronto want to build around Knies, as they don't have many young centrepieces of the franchise in place already beyond he and Easton Cowan, but if the Devils come calling and a deal makes sense for both teams, something could get done between them over the summer.

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