If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to retool, they may need to go the trade route, and that could cost them Matthew Knies
James Mirtle of The Athletic: Sources confirmed that Matthew Knies‘ name was out there leading up to the trade deadline. Chris Johnston reported there was nothing close.
But why was his name out there? Well, for starters, their prospect pool is ranked 29th by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. Secondly, if they’re going to retool and, with free agency not offering much, they’ll need to offer something of value to help fix their blue line. They’ll also need some help down the middle.
William Nylander and Auston Matthews have no-movement clauses, and asking them to waive signals a rebuild and not a retool. Knies and maybe Easton Cowan are the only two that might get you into the conversation of a top-two center or first-pairing defenseman. To get into any trade talks involving an elite center, like a Robert Thomas, or a really good defenseman, you’re going to need to offer up some good value, and their options are limited.
NHL Rumors: Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs
A successful offer sheet is even more unlikely this offseason
The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston on the Embrace The Tank episode, talking about how it’s almost impossible that we’ll see an offer sheet this offseason.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
McKenzie: “Also, shout out to the RFA market as well, Jason Robertson as an RFA this summer, for what it’s worth.”
Johnston: “I know, but here’s the thing, offer sheets haven’t worked, really in general, but the odds of them working with this, with the cap jumping again, I think it’s almost impossible.
Like you would have to put such a big overpay in front of a player to have the team not match it, and then you’re giving up like four first-round picks. So I just don’t see offer sheets really factoring in.
Could Jacob Fowler be the Montreal Canadiens Starting Goalie in the Playoffs?
And I’m saying that knowing what happened with the Blues and Oilers two summers ago. I think that was specific circumstances where St Louis rightly capitalized on, you know, a situation that Edmonton was in. But I, I just don’t see that being repeated.”
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