Matthew Knies says his move to Columbus has given him something he hadn’t felt in a while: relief.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the new Blue Jackets forward described the trade out of Toronto as a chance to reset after a summer that weighed on him mentally. The noise around his future had followed him for months, and now he says he can finally turn his attention back to the ice.
“I’m fired up to go to Columbus and get a fresh start and a breath of fresh air and not have to worry about all that kind of crap over my head for all those trade stuff,” Knies said. “And just kind of focus on hockey and focus on the guys in the room and try and win.”
Knies had been a central name in trade talk throughout the summer as the Maple Leafs, under new general manager John Chayka, worked to reshape the roster and become a more competitive team. For a while, the 23-year-old looked like a real possibility to be moved. As the regular season got closer, though, it appeared he might stay put, and Knies even said he was “fortunate that I’m still here.”
That changed on Monday, when Columbus and Toronto completed a deal that sent Knies, forward Steven Lorentz and defenseman Emil Andrae, along with a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, to the Blue Jackets. Toronto got forward Kirill Marchenko, defenseman Miles Wood and goaltender Elivs Merzlikins in return.
Even with the fresh start, Knies made clear that leaving Toronto won’t be easy. He said the relationships he built there will stick with him.
“I’ll remember the guys, obviously. I love the group of guys we had here.
There’s a lot of guys I can mention that helped me kind of get to where I am now, and a lot of veteran players that it was easy to follow with. But yeah, it was a fun time playing here.
It was a crazy hockey city and exciting.”
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On Torontos side, new general manager John Chayka offered a small window into how the deal came together, saying Marchenko was the only player seriously considered in exchange for Knies under his watch. The Maple Leafs are still hoping Marchenko can be available for their season opener while immigration issues are sorted out, which leaves the move with one lingering layer of uncertainty even after the headline trade itself is settled. [Read more 🡒]
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For Columbus, the deal is about much more than subtracting a winger who mattered to the roster. The return brings a mix of established NHL pieces, lineup depth and future value, giving the Blue Jackets a package that could reshape their depth chart and their longer-term plans all at once. Whether the trade ultimately pays off will depend on how those incoming pieces fit, but for now the move marks one of the more consequential decisions this core has faced. [Read more 🡒]