Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies trade update seems unbothered by new front office

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Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies trade update seems unbothered by new front office originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a new front office leader this offseason as John Chayka took over the GM role previously held by Brad Treliving.

With that shift comes a potential change in plans. Chayka gets his own chance to assess the roster and decide what moves he does or doesn't want to make.

But as it pertains to Matthew Knies, maybe the status quo is in order.

Treliving shopped Knies before the March trade deadline in the hopes of getting a big package in return, but no deal was ever completed.

Now, Knies may still be available for a steep price.

The Athletic's Chris Johnston ranks Knies 12th on his offseason trade board, and Knies would likely be higher if it was more clear he was available. Johnston seems to think, though, that Chayka could follow Treliving's lead here in trying to move Knies.

"A young power forward with an ideal blend of size and skill who is signed until his late 20s, Knies is the kind of player NHL teams rarely, if ever, trade," Johnston writes. "That’s partly why the Maple Leafs considered it ahead of the March trade deadline. They felt he could bring back a bonanza of assets to reboot a program short on prospects and draft picks. There’s since been a change in management in Toronto, with John Chayka replacing Brad Treliving, but Chayka has told other teams that his only roster untouchable is Auston Matthews. That leaves the door open for those who showed interest in Knies previously to try again."

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That idea that everyone is available besides Matthews is going to keep coming up this offseason, and even if it's totally true, it's a tricky one. It doesn't mean Knies is available for cheap. The Leafs would likely need a massive haul to consider moving him.

So sure, he's acquirable, but probably barely.

Still, it's interesting that consecutive GMs might consider moving Knies. Maybe that means his value isn't quite as high as some would think.

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