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The Montreal Canadiens had a major trade in place with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the NHL trade deadline, according to a bombshell claim.
The Montreal Canadiens’ quiet NHL trade deadline wasn’t due to a lack of trying. Various pundits had claimed at various points that the Habs had something in the works. But at the end of the day, things just didn’t work out.
Rumors went into high gear when Elliotte Friedman claimed that the Habs had a major deal at the deadline that just didn’t go through. While Friedman was reticent to talk about his theories, Nick Kypreos wasn’t.
Kypreos made a bombshell claim on Monday, stating that the supposed blockbuster the Canadiens were working on involved the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kypreos stated the following during Monday’s edition of the Kyper & Bourne Show:
“They all schedule their post trade deadline press conferences, and [Kent Hughes] was late because he was working on something big… there is a sense…that the deal that he was working on was with the Maple Leafs.”
While that claim in itself is a major bombshell, the biggest question mark would be the names involved in a rare Canadiens-Maple Leafs trade.
Kypreos added this layer of intrigue:
“There is a sense that the deal [Kent Hughes] was working on was with the Leafs… I can tell you [Matthew Knies’] name was out there with multiple teams.”
“There is a sense that the deal [Kent Hughes] was working on was with the Leafs… I can tell you [Matthew Knies’] name was out there with multiple teams.”
@RealKyper shares what he heard about a potential Leafs–Canadiens deal before the deadline with @jtbourne and @SamAMcKee.
Indeed, Matthew Knies’ name was part of rumors and speculation leading up to last Friday’s NHL trade deadline. While it wasn’t clear if Knies was officially on the block, the consensus was that the Maple Leafs were listening to offers.
Canadiens’ Potential Offer for Knies Unclear
As for what the Canadiens could have offered for Knies remains unclear. The consensus is that the Leafs were willing to make a move if the offer was overwhelming.
In that case, the situation could have involved multiple young pieces. One of the names making the rounds in Canadiens trade rumors was Michael Hage. However, the Habs were reluctant to part with the up-and-coming star.
One rumor posited that the Habs were reluctant to part with Hage as part of a deal with the St. Louis Blues for Robert Thomas.
As such, it’s unlikely that Hage would have been part of a deal for Knies. However, other names have emerged, such as defensemen Kaiden Guhle, Adam Engstrom, and David Reinbacher. Additionally, the Habs’ first-round pick and additional picks could have gone the other way.
Habs May Circle Back in Offseason
Kypreos left the door open for a potential revisit during the offseason. The notable commentator did not slam the door on this potential deal. In fact, he left plenty of room for the Leafs to still shake things up once the season is over.
It remains unclear whether the Canadiens could be part of that situation moving forward. If the Habs can come up with a package that allows the Leafs to rebuild successfully, Knies could very well be on the move.
As for now, all of this discussion is mere hearsay. Perhaps in the coming days and weeks, fans will get a greater sense of what could have really happened behind the scenes at the trade deadline this year.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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