Report: Leafs and Habs agreed to Matthew Knies trade

According to a report from NHL insider David Pagnotta, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens agreed to a trade involving Leafs star Matthew Knies at the NHL's March 6th trade deadline, but were unable to file the trade with the league before time ran out.

From Pagnotta:

...in exchange for Knies, the Canadiens were going to send highly-touted prospect Alexander Zharovsky, another top prospect and two first-round draft picks to Toronto.

According to sources, the Canadiens approached the Leafs late in the day on deadline day about the move, which Toronto accepted, but the Leafs were unable to get the trade filed ahead of the 3pm ET deadline.

Earlier this week Habs GM Kent Hughes told reporters that he fell just short of a “significant deal” at the deadline and hopes to be revisit the deal this summer. We can presume that the deal Hughes is talking about is the deal that Pagnotta is reporting on, but of course we now know that the Leafs have a new GM in John Chayka. It's not yet known if Chayka would entertain a deal for Knies, but it certainly does seem like the ball is in his court.

Knies has quickly developed into one of the most intriguing young power forwards in the NHL, and his emergence as a cornerstone player for the Toronto Maple Leafs has made him one of the most talked-about names in trade speculation heading into the 2026 offseason.

Drafted 57th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Draft, Knies took a unique path to the NHL. After starring with the University of Minnesota, where he established himself as one of college hockey's most dominant forwards, the Phoenix-born winger joined Toronto late in the 2022-23 season. He immediately made an impact, recording a key assist in the Maple Leafs' first playoff series victory since 2004 and showing the blend of size, skill, and physicality that has become his trademark.

Since then, Knies has steadily grown into a top-line contributor. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing over 220 pounds, he possesses the rare combination of elite puck protection, net-front presence, and offensive touch that NHL teams covet. His first full NHL seasons saw him establish himself as a reliable producer while playing alongside Toronto's star forwards, and he continued to improve his offensive output each year. Along the way, he recorded milestones such as his first NHL hat trick and became one of the club's most effective playoff performers.

Ironically, Knies' success is a major reason his name has surfaced in trade rumors. Following Toronto's disappointing 2025-26 campaign and a significant front-office overhaul, reports suggested the organization at least explored his value on the trade market around the deadline. Several teams, including the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and New Jersey Devils, have reportedly been linked to the young winger in various speculative scenarios.

Despite the rumors, many around the league believe Knies remains exactly the type of player Toronto should build around. At just 23 years old, he already brings a playoff-style game that is difficult to find and even harder to replace. Knies himself has publicly indicated that he wants to remain in Toronto, while many Leafs fans view him as a future leader and potential long-term cornerstone.

That said, Chayka faces enormous pressure to reshape a roster that missed the playoffs. If Toronto pursues a major trade for a top defenseman or impact center, Knies could once again become the organization's most valuable trade chip outside of its established superstars. Whether he stays or goes, expect Knies to remain one of the NHL's biggest offseason storylines as teams continue to inquire about a young power forward who appears to be just scratching the surface of his potential.