Matthew Knies Will Chirp the Maple Leafs, but the

Hockey players have a funny way of handling awkward reunions. They joke about old teammates, promise a few chirps, and act as though facing their former club is just another game. Sometimes, though, there's a little more going on beneath the laughter.

Matthew Knies is preparing to face the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time since leaving the organization, and he's already promising to bring some material. After spending three years with many of the players, he figures he has plenty of things to say to them. I suspect there will be a few laughs when the teams meet Tuesday. But I found his comments about saying goodbye more interesting than the promise of a few good chirps.

Three Years Together Means Something for Maple Leafs Teammates.

Knies said almost all his former teammates called to wish him well and say they'd keep in touch. His first call came from Morgan Rielly, a veteran who had helped him when he was a young player. Auston Matthews, John Tavares and others followed. He admitted it was sad to say goodbye because everyone had become so close.

That's the part worth remembering when we talk about trades. We tend to discuss them in terms of contracts, production, roster needs and whether a general manager got a good return. Those things matter, of course. But players don't spend three seasons together without building relationships that go beyond the rink.

For a young player like Knies, having veteran teammates who take an interest in him can make a real difference. They help him learn the league, understand the expectations and find his place in the room. Those lessons don't disappear simply because a player changes teams. Rielly's call seems like a small gesture, but small gestures can mean a lot to someone leaving a place where he’s grown as a player.

The Chirping Is Part of the Game.

Now Knies gets to face those same teammates from the other side. His promise to chirp them is part of hockey's familiar humour, and I imagine the players on both benches will enjoy it. There's something healthy about competing against former teammates without pretending the relationship never existed. The friendships can remain even when the jerseys change.

We sometimes talk about professional hockey as though players simply move from one employer to another. In reality, they spend long days travelling, practising, winning, losing and dealing with pressure together. It's hardly surprising that strong bonds develop.

Tuesday's game will matter in the standings, and Knies will want to help his new team win. But it can also remind everyone that a trade doesn't erase what came before it. The Maple Leafs may be his former team now, but the people who helped him along the way are still part of his story. And if a few chirps are the price of seeing old friends again, I suspect Knies will be happy to pay it.