The Toronto Maple Leafs were one minute away from trading Matthew Knies to their most storied rival.
The Maple Leafs had a deal in place to send Knies to the Montreal Canadiens at the 2026 deadline, but it was submitted one minute past the 3 p.m. ET deadline, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday's "32 Thoughts: The Podcast."
Friedman believes the deal was similar to what The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reported Thursday: Knies for Alexander Zharovsky, another top prospect, and two first-round picks. The second top prospect was not Michael Hage or David Reinbacher, sources told Pagnotta.
Brad Treliving, Toronto's general manager at the 2026 deadline, was fired in March. The deal is likely no longer on the table with John Chayka leading the Maple Leafs' front office, according to Friedman.
Knies, 23, recorded 23 goals and 66 points in 79 games last season. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound power forward is signed for five more years with a $7.75-million cap hit. He's been rumored as a potential trade chip this offseason in order to help the Maple Leafs fill needs at center and/or on defense.
Zharovsky was a second-round pick by the Canadiens in 2025 and has the makings of a draft steal. The 19-year-old winger tallied 42 points in 59 games in the KHL last season.
