Revealed: Why the Matthew Knies blockbuster trade collapsed

Even though the NHL trade deadline has passed, a near-blockbuster deal involving Matthew Knies continues to make waves.

According to insider Nick Kypreos, the Toronto Maple Leafs quietly explored moving the 23-year-old late in the process, catching multiple teams by surprise.

The Montreal Canadiens were reportedly among the most interested. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes spoke to reporters nearly 45 minutes after the deadline, expressing frustration that a major trade he was working on fell through due to time constraints. He suggested discussions could resume in the offseason.

Kypreos noted that the late timing was a major hurdle, leaving teams like Montreal and Chicago unprepared to finalize a deal of that scale.

Knies, who has 23 goals and 64 points in 74 games, combines youth, size, and a long-term $7.75 million contract, making him a highly desirable but expensive trade target—likely requiring top prospects and premium draft picks.

This near-deal signals that trade talks around Knies may not be finished and could resurface in the offseason.