One Leafs reporter believes that a young Leaf is no longer untouchable
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie and former second round pick Matthew Knies has found a home on the top line with Auston Matthews and either Mitch Marner or William Nylander. While he has struggled at times and is still clearly figuring out the game at the NHL level, he has improved significantly throughout the season, showing a constant trend in the right direction.
Knies has skated in 29 games, missing a pair due to the flu, and has racked up 13 points in just over 14 minutes of ice per game on average. The 2021 second rounder took prospects Easton Cowan and and Fraser Minten under his wing during training camp and during Minten's short stint with the Leafs at the beginning of the season. With both of them playing for Team Canada at the World Juniors, Knies was asked if he would become a temporary Team Canada fan.
With how well Knies has played in his rookie season, it might surprise you to learn that one Leafs reporter believes he is no longer an untouchable. Per The Athletic's Jonas Siegel, Knies could actually be used as a trade chip to land a significant upgrade for the Leafs ahead of the trade deadline. Siegel mentioned that while it is unlikely the Leafs would trade Knies, he may no longer be listed among the team's untouchables like Minten, Cowan and budding star goaltender Dennis Hildeby.
Knies no longer being "untouchable" should be taken with a grain of salt, given that other, credible insiders have reported that he has been deemed "untouchable" by the Leafs as recently as this summer. It would not make much sense for the Leafs to move Knies either given how thin their depth is on the left wing and could become even thinner at the end of the season if Tyler Bertuzzi opts not to re-sign, instead walking as a free agent.
The 21-year-old Knies is one of the few players that are in the Leafs' plans for the foreseeable future, given his contract and pending RFA status. I highly doubt they'd flip the switch so quickly on him and move him out now, especially because he is Brad Treliving's favourite type of player.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 27 | 623 ANSWERS One Leafs reporter believes that a young Leaf is no longer untouchable Do you think the Leafs would entertain the idea of moving Matthew Knies for the right upgrade? | ||
| Yes, for the right player | 203 | 32.6 % |
| No, they wouldn't even consider it | 330 | 53 % |
| It's hard to say | 90 | 14.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
