The Toronto Maple Leafs have already reshaped their roster this offseason, but one storyline refuses to fade. Despite public praise from management, insiders say the Leafs are aggressively looking to trade Matthew Knies, a contradiction that has fueled speculation even further.

NHL Rumour Report shared a post on X about comments from Nick Kypreos on the podcast Real Kyper & Bourne. Kypreos said the Maple Leafs are still actively pursuing trade options for Knies: “The Leafs have been trying very hard to move Matthew Knies; I don't get the sense they'll stop.”

The comments suggest that Toronto is not just listening to trade offers. The team may still be actively looking at different trade options.

The report comes after a busy offseason for the Maple Leafs. As reported by Michael Whitaker of Heavy Media, they traded goalie Joseph Woll to the Philadelphia Flyers, added defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning, selected Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the St. Louis Blues.

After all these moves, Knies has become one of the biggest names in trade rumors.

However, there is no sign that a deal is close. Right now, the team is simply looking at whether trading one of its young core players could help it become a stronger Stanley Cup contender.

John Chayka’s Public Praise Masks Active Trade Pursuit

In the same report, Michael Whitaker of Heavy Media said that new Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka has played down the chances of trading Knies. At the same time, he also said the team has to look at every possible option.

Chayka praised the 23-year-old winger, saying Knies has a rare mix of size, skating, and skill. He also said it would be very difficult for the team to find a better player than Matthew Knies.

Whitaker also reported Knies has shared what he wants. After signing his six-year contract with a $7.75 million cap hit, he said he hopes to stay in Toronto for a long time. He also understands that trades are part of the NHL.

That cap hit, below market for his production, makes him especially attractive to contenders looking for value.

Because of this, there is a clear difference between what the team says publicly and the trade rumors that continue around Knies. As a result, he remains one of the most talked-about players this offseason.

Nick Kypreos says the Maple Leafs are still looking at Matthew Knies trade options. At the same time, John Chayka has publicly said how important Knies is to the team.

This shows that Toronto is trying to balance two goals: improving the team now while keeping its young core together.

It is still unclear if those trade talks will lead to a deal. But the rumors around Knies are not likely to go away anytime soon. What do you think? Will the Maple Leafs trade Matthew Knies, or will he stay in Toronto? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Koushik Biswas