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The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to have a fairly hectic offseason this summer. Toronto recently capped off an incredibly disappointing 2025-26 by finishing last in the Atlantic Division. After losing seven consecutive games, the club will have the fifth-worst record in the entire NHL. As a result, they missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
On the ice, the Maple Leafs are expected to make roster changes. Much of the talk involving Toronto players surrounds superstar center Auston Matthews. The club’s captain has been linked with a potential move away from the team in recent weeks. Matthews broke his silence regarding the situation on April 16 by admitting that he “can’t predict” his future.
Outside of Matthews, Matthew Knies has also been linked with a trade away from Toronto. The Maple Leafs previously listened to offers for the young forward ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. Toronto apparently asked for a substantial return for the player. Knies, however, is not looking for a way out. The star was asked on April 16 if his reported high asking price was flattering.
“I wouldn’t want to look at it as a compliment; I’d look at it as a crappy thing,” replied Knies, as reported by Sportsnet’s Anna Dua. “I don’t want to leave this group of guys… it doesn’t really matter what it was. I wouldn’t want to leave here.”
Matthew Knies Recently Signed a Long-Term Deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs
GettyMatthew Knies posted career-high numbers with the Maple Leafs in 2025-26.
The new quotes from Knies essentially echo recent comments he made on the situation. The Toronto Sun asked the forward about the trade rumors and his future with the club on April 13. “I look at it that I committed to this team for six years, and I hope that commitment stays vice versa,” replied Knies. “It’s something out of my control. So if it happens, it’s understandable. But I want to be here. That’s how I look at it.”
As he points out, Knies previously signed a six-year, $46.5 million extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs in July 2025. He will now not become a free agent until the summer of 2031. Not only is the youngster tied down, but his contract is widely viewed as team-friendly. His $7.75 million AAV is very manageable considering the NHL salary cap is expected to rise to $123 million by the 2028-29 season.
Although the Maple Leafs struggled as a team in 2025-26, Knies posted impressive statistics on the year. In fact, his 66 points in 79 games on the campaign were his career high. At just 23, the forward will only get better with time.
Toronto Has Money to Spend This Summer
Trade rumors regarding Knies may very well ease now that Brad Treliving is no longer Toronto’s general manager. The exec was recently terminated due to the club’s ongoing struggles. Team brass has already begun the search for a new GM, and it would seem unlikely that a new exec would want to offload a budding star such as Knies.
The Maple Leafs now enter the offseason with just over $22 million in projected cap space. Assuming Toronto holds on to Matthews and Knies, they will need to give the star more support on the ice. The next GM will also have to choose wisely in the upcoming draft, too.
Christopher Moore Christopher Moore has been a Heavy.com contributor since 2025. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has published thousands of articles reporting on multiple professional sports. He was previously a sports writer for World Soccer Talk, the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and the Maryland Sports Blog. More about Christopher Moore
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