The Maple Leafs Are Handling Matthew Knies Exactly Right
I may be in the minority here, but I think the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing this situation with Matthew Knies exactly the way they should. First, let's get one thing out of the way. I don't want Knies traded.
Knies is an amazing player for the Maple Leafs.
He's 23 years old, coming off a terrific season, and looks like the kind of player every team spends years trying to find. He can score, he plays with an edge, and he seems to get a little better every time you watch him. If I'm running the Maple Leafs, I'm perfectly happy keeping him right where he is.
But that's exactly why Toronto's reported asking price makes so much sense. I’ve heard that the Maple Leafs have frustrated other NHL GMs because they don’t know whether Knies is on the market. If teams are calling about Knies, why would the Maple Leafs be in a hurry to move him?
They aren't under pressure. They don't have to trade him. They aren't trying to unload a bad contract. They're holding on to a valuable young player they would probably prefer to keep.
Related: Why Did the Maple Leafs Sign a Contract Their Fans Hate?
Every player can be traded—Knies included—but only at a price.
So if another general manager wants Knies badly enough, make him pay. And I don't mean pay a fair price. I mean, pay a price that makes fans sit back and say, "Okay, I didn't expect that."
That's what seems to be happening here. Reports suggest Toronto is looking for a massive return, and honestly, why shouldn't they? If another team believes Knies is the missing piece and is willing to part with premium assets to get him, the Maple Leafs would be foolish not to listen. The beauty of this approach is that Toronto wins either way.
If Toronto moves him, it will be for a solid return. If they keep him, all the better.
If nobody meets the asking price, the Maple Leafs keep a young power forward who appears to be entering the best years of his career. That's not exactly a bad outcome. If someone meets the asking price, Toronto receives the kind of return that could reshape the roster for years to come.
That's why I don't see this as a trade story. I see it as an asset-management story. The Maple Leafs are essentially telling the rest of the league, "We like this player. We want to keep this player. But if you want him badly enough, you're going to have to overwhelm us." That strikes me as smart business.
Will somebody actually pay the Maple Leafs’ price?
I have no idea. But if they do, Toronto should listen carefully. And if they don't, the Leafs get to keep Matthew Knies. From where I'm sitting, that's a pretty good position to be in.