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'Obviously there's some smoke there': Elliotte Friedman comments directly on Habs/Leafs trade talks


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Jack Sutherland
March 10, 2026  (5:38 PM)
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (23) takes as hot on net and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Justin Barron (52) defends during the first period at the Bell Centre.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman has recently directly commented on some of the rumours surrounding a trade between the divisional foe Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens at last week's deadline.

The trade deadline is complete, and there were multiple deals done between multiple teams, and several players are now wearing new sweaters.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who are going to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016 in all likelihood, traded away Bobby McMann to the Seattle Kraken and also traded Scott Laughton, who they acquired last year from the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline, to the Los Angeles Kings.
But there were also reports that the Maple Leafs could have considered a trade with the divisional foe Montreal Canadiens, and young forward Matthew Knies' name was included.
NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman has commented directly on those rumours, saying there was some credence to them and that when he inquired, they weren't denied.
I heard those same theories, and I'll say this, it was denied to me, but obviously, there's some smoke there. And we'll see, but I also think it's possible that there was something else for the Canadiens, we'll see. But I definitely heard the Knies rumours, and I chased them before the show Saturday. They weren't denied to me, and we'll see how things turn out in the long run. - Elliotte Friedman
So far this year, Knies has 51 points (16G, 35A) for the struggling Maple Leafs.

Matthew Knies Is In The First Of A Six Year Deal

Knies was taken with the 57th overall pick by the Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and he's played his entire professional career in a Maple Leafs sweater.
He previously played for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL and also played two years in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota.
He's in the first year of a six year contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $7,750,000.
In 222 career NHL games, Knies has 145 points (60G, 85A).
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'Obviously there's some smoke there': Elliotte Friedman comments directly on Habs/Leafs trade talks

Would trading Matthew Knies to the divisional foe Canadiens been a good move for the Maple Leafs?

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