Maple Leafs acquire a substantial haul in exchange for forward Matthew Knies in a completed trade that failed
Matthew Knies is still a what-if for Martin St-Louis after the full failed trade package with Toronto finally came into focus.
The headline isn't just that Montreal pushed hard for Knies at the deadline.
It's that the Canadiens were ready to move a massive futures package before the paperwork missed the window.
For a while, the known pieces were already heavy. Alexander Zharovsky and 2 first-round picks had been tied to the talks, which made this one feel expensive even before the last name surfaced.
Now that final piece is out there. Jeff Marek reported that defense prospect Bryce Pickford was also part of the offer sent toward the Maple Leafs.
That changes the shape of the story. This wasn't Montreal kicking tires on a young power winger. This was a real swing at a top-end piece with long-term cost attached.
Pickford isn't a throw-in either. He was selected 81st overall in 2025, and his breakout year made him a real asset in any serious trade conversation.
Why the miss may have helped both teams
Pickford's numbers explain why this offer jumps off the page. The Medicine Hat defenseman scored 45 goals and added 38 assists for 83 points in 55 games during the 2025-26 season.
That's the kind of production that pushes a prospect from depth piece to headline asset. Add Zharovsky and those 2 firsts, and Montreal was walking right up to the edge.
From the Canadiens' side, the miss may have kept the bigger picture intact. Their roster still looks like a group that needs help down the middle more than it needs another pricey move on the wing.
From Toronto's side, moving Knies would have opened another storm. A young winger with size, pace, and top-six value isn't easy to replace, especially when the return is built around futures.
And that's why this trade still hits. The package was huge, the deal was close, and one missed submission changed the direction of 2 Original Six teams.
Montreal showed just how badly it wanted Matthew Knies. In the end, both clubs may have stepped away from a move that would've left real scars.
|
YESTERDAY
JUNE 6, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mitch Marner | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Tomas Hertl | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Shea Theodore | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Brayden McNabb | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Martinook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brett Howden | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Seth Jarvis | - | 1 | 1 | |
| William Karlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Eric Robinson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jaccob Slavin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||