Matthew Knies has been at the center of plenty of chatter, and the noise around him still hasn’t really faded. Toronto appears comfortable keeping him in the fold for now, but Nick Kypreos doesn’t sound convinced the conversation is over.
On the July 1 edition of the Real Kyper and Bourne Show, Kypreos said he still gets the sense the Maple Leafs would rather move Knies than Easton Cowan if a deal ever materialized. His view was blunt: “I think...they'd rather move Matthew Knies than even Easton Cowan; the feeling I'm getting is, [trade talk] won't go away with Knies; I get the sense they don't feel his upside is...as high as the perception...out there.”
That kind of talk lands differently when it involves a 23-year-old who has already drawn significant investment from the organization. Knies is not close to his prime, and Toronto clearly values what he brings right now.
Cowan, meanwhile, is only 20 and is also viewed as a major piece of the future. The Leafs like both players, but Knies carries more immediate value because of what he can provide today, while Cowan’s ceiling is still being sorted out.
The trade rumors around Knies have been floating around for months. There was a supposed Montreal deal that got shot down, and later Buffalo and Chicago were mentioned as possible landing spots, especially with the 2026 4th overall pick being swapped around. In the end, nothing got done, not even a Zach Werenski one.
For now, the expectation is that Knies stays in Toronto and plays a big role in the lineup. The Leafs are counting on him to bring the kind of skill set that can help push them toward the postseason again.
Still, there’s a wrinkle here. If Toronto believes Knies has already shown what he is, rather than what some think he can become, then the ceiling might be lower than the outside hype suggests. The buzz around him has included talk of 30+ goals, 85+ points, and 175 hits, but last season’s production may be closer to the version the team expects going forward.
There’s also the matter of who he was skating with. Mitch Marner was beside him and had 16 assists, so Knies does need a facilitator. Cowan, as the source material puts it, is the facilitator.
Assistant GM Ryan Hardy tried to calm things down two weeks ago, saying the team is always talking with players and their agents, but anything beyond that is speculation.
So the safest read is this: Knies is part of the core unless something bigger comes along. If another Werenski-type opportunity surfaces, or if a premium player becomes available and can meaningfully boost the roster for a postseason run, Toronto could revisit the idea. Knies is a rare mix of size, speed, strength and soft hands, but a true No. 1 defenseman is the kind of asset that can change everything.
That’s why Kypreos isn’t ready to fully buy into Knies being untouchable in Maple Leafs plans. And given how badly John Chayka wants to win, that skepticism may not be going anywhere either.
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