Sid Seixeiro sees the Matthew Knies trade chatter a little differently than most. To him, the fact that Knies keeps popping up in rumors isn’t a sign the Maple Leafs are eager to move him - it’s proof of how much league-wide interest he carries.
On his show, Seixeiro pointed to the contract setup and the kind of conversations that happen when teams are trying to swing a bigger deal.
"Knies has five years left on his deal. He has zero trade protection for the next little while.
I think he might have some at the end, but not much. And his cap hit is a delicious $7.75 million.
But I find it hard to believe John Chayka would be involved in any major trade talk for, let’s say, a defenseman, and not have the other GM say, ‘So what’s going on with Matthew Knies?’"
For Seixeiro, the recurring speculation says more about Knies’ market value than any imminent move by Toronto.
"It’s a compliment, not a rip,” he said of the fact that Knies’ name continues to circulate in trade talks.
Knies is currently under a six-year, $46.6 million contract with the Maple Leafs. The 23-year-old put up 66 points, including 23 goals and 43 assists, in 79 games last season.
Seixeiro also took aim at the Ottawa Senators over a planned tribute video for Brady Tkachuk when the forward returns to Canadian Tire Centre next month as a member of the Florida Panthers.
Ottawa is reportedly planning to honor its former captain on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Seixeiro made it clear he thinks that goes too far after Tkachuk asked for a trade earlier this summer.
"The Ottawa Senators this week did talk about the Brady Tkachuk return on Wednesday, October 21st, at Canadian Tire Centre, and he let it be known there will be a welcome back video for Brady Tkachuk that night in Ottawa. But let me put this on the table: How many Sens fans are going to be there on October 21st and go home and go, ‘I’m really disappointed that we didn’t honour the coward who demanded his way out of town back on June 21st’?
Man, this pisses me off. Not everyone deserves the video."
Tkachuk asked out just over a week after Ottawa was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2026 playoffs. He spent eight seasons in the Canadian capital before his return to Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs May Regret Letting A Defense Prospect Help Tampa Bay
Nathan Mayes is getting another look in a new uniform, and it is the kind of move that can make a team like the Maple Leafs wonder if it gave up on a defense prospect a little too soon. Drafted by Toronto, Mayes has landed on Tampa Bays Prospect Showcase roster, putting him in front of the Lightnings staff without Tampa having to spend a draft asset to get a closer evaluation.
Toronto did not offer Mayes an entry-level contract, which opened the door for Tampa Bay to take a longer look at what he might become after his development in the WHL. The Lightning are now sorting out whether there is a path for him to help at the AHL or NHL level, and for the Leafs, it is another reminder that a prospects next step can sometimes happen somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Fraser Minten Just Made The Leafs Trade Debate Even Worse
Fraser Mintens rise in Boston has turned into one more uncomfortable reminder for the Maple Leafs, who moved the young center during the 2024-25 season and have watched him settle in quickly on the other side of the rivalry. After spending his first full NHL season with the Bruins last year, Minten has now put himself in line for a major long-term commitment, the kind of development that always sends a fresh wave through the debate over what Toronto gave up.
The Bruins have signed Minten to a seven-year extension beginning in the 2027-28 season, a deal worth $50.4 million with a $7.2 million cap hit. For Toronto, the timing only sharpens the old question about whether the organization moved on too soon from a player who looks like a core piece in Boston, and it gives Leafs fans another reason to revisit a trade that already felt like it carried plenty of risk. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Forward Depth Issue Could Open Door For An Unexpected Prospect
The Maple Leafs have spent plenty of time sorting out their forward depth, and that has started to create some real opportunity for a prospect who was not necessarily supposed to be part of the conversation this early. Miroslav Holinka has quietly pushed his way into the picture by showing strong development in both junior and professional settings, the kind of steady progress that can matter when a team starts looking for help beyond the usual names.
For Toronto, the appeal is obvious: a young player who has earned notice can become more than just an organizational depth piece if the roster keeps leaving openings. Holinka is now viewed as a legitimate call-up candidate, and with the Leafs still managing the shape of their bottom-six options, his timing could end up being important. The next step is whether that promise translates into a real chance when the need finally comes. [Read more 🡒]