Knies trade – A Maple Leafs-Canadiens deadline deal sending Matthew Knies to Montreal was submitted one minute after the 3 p.m. ET deadline and was rejected, according to Elliotte Friedman. The package would have brought top prospect Alexander Zharovsky, one other prospect,
Matthew Knies was one minute away from being a Montreal Canadien.
A trade-deadline deal that would have shipped the Toronto Maple Leafs power forward to their biggest rival collapsed because it was submitted 60 seconds past the 3 p.m. ET hard stop, Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday’s edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.
Friedman said he’s heard different versions of what caused the delay and who was responsible, but he doesn’t have certainty about the specifics.
“There’s some different variations on why it was late and whose fault it was that it was late, but I don’t know for sure,” Friedman said. “But suffice it to say, a lot of people pointed fingers at other people or gave different reasons as to why it didn’t happen.”
The deal itself was straightforward in its promise: Knies would have gone to the Canadiens in exchange for top prospect Alexander Zharovsky, one other prospect and two first-round picks, Friedman said. He also confirmed a Thursday report by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
Knies, 23, is under contract through the 2030-31 season at $7.75 million annually. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause, which made him a movable asset for Toronto as former general manager Brad Treliving looked to restock the Maple Leafs’ cupboards.
But with Treliving out and John Chayka in as GM, Friedman suggested the hockey world’s small margin—one minute—may be the final one.
“I think it’s possible Montreal wanted to revisit it, but I don’t believe it will happen. I think that deal is off the table now,” Friedman said.
The numbers show why Toronto—and the Canadiens—were taking the gamble. Knies appeared in 79 games this season, posting a career-high 66 points (23 goals, 43 assists). Yet his final line also carried a bruise: as the Maple Leafs slumped out of the playoffs. he finished with a career- and team-worst minus-30.
Montreal’s side of the picture was equally dramatic. The Canadiens reached the conference final with seven-game series wins over the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres before falling in five games to the Carolina Hurricanes.
All the ingredients were there for a major swing in Toronto’s roster and Montreal’s rebuild attempt—until the paperwork missed its window by 60 seconds.
Matthew Knies Toronto Maple Leafs Montreal Canadiens Elliotte Friedman 32 Thoughts: The Podcast trade deadline Alexander Zharovsky John Chayka Brad Treliving NHL
60 seconds late?? That’s wild. Like the NHL is allergic to chaos.
I don’t even get why it matters that much, it’s still the same trade. Someone probably forgot a signature or clicked the wrong button. Hockey drama for no reason.
So basically Montreal just “changed their mind” because of a minute? Seems convenient. If it was rejected then it’s on Toronto’s side to me, because you submit it, you own it. Unless Chayka’s doing some super secret power move lol.
Paperwork missed by 60 seconds and now Knies is stuck with the Leafs?? This league is so petty. I saw someone say Friedman always exaggerates but idk. Also minus-30, that’s rough, maybe Toronto was trying to dump his contract anyway. Either way it feels like a glitch, not a real reason the trade should die.