Toronto Maple Leafs taking trade calls on Knies and Chicago's reportedly interested

The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly keeping the phone lines open for teams interested in Matthew Knies.

According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the Chicago Blackhawks are among the teams showing the most interest, with a desire to have Knies playing alongside Connor Bedard and the rest of their young core.

Chicago is reportedly willing to part with the fourth overall pick as part of a potential package in return.

Matthew Knies (#23) has played three full seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Jeff Curry/Imagn Images)

Knies is coming off the best season of his young career, recording 66 points in 79 games. At 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds, he's a player who would add size and skill to any team's top six.

He was also one of the Maple Leafs' players circulating on the rumour mill around the trade deadline, but a deal never went through.

This report confirms that even with the recent Maple Leafs GM change, the new John Chayka-led regime has continued to take calls for the 23-year-old.

The Maple Leafs were also reportedly as close as it gets to moving Knies at the trade deadline to the Montreal Canadiens for prospects and draft picks, but the trade was submitted a minute after the deadline passed.

If a deal with Chicago were to materialize, it would give Toronto two top-five selections in Friday's draft, the first and fourth overall picks.

Some ESPN buzz about the Blackhawks:

“Toronto (Maple Leafs) continues to field calls on Matthew Knies. The Blackhawks have been interested for a while, as Knies (23) fits their age range to grow with Connor Bedard and the rest of their emerging core. The No. 4 pick from Chicago… https://t.co/evLwlBONKW

— Kalen Lumpkins (@kalenalumpkins) June 23, 2026

Whether Knies ultimately moves or not, Sportsnet's hockey insider Elliotte Friedman said on the June 22 episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast that the Maple Leafs' decision to move him will likely come down to how much teams are willing to pay.

Friedman said Toronto is unlikely to move him unless there's an offer the franchise cannot refuse.