- Chayka called trading Matthew Knies “not probable” on Friday
- The 23-year-old winger had a career year with 66 points in 79 games
- Read below for what Chayka said and where it leaves Toronto’s offseason
John Chayka isn’t looking to move Matthew Knies.
The Maple Leafs general manager was asked about the Knies trade chatter during his media availability Friday, hours after Toronto acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh from Tampa Bay. Chayka said he’ll evaluate everything, but called trading a young, core player like Knies “not probable.”
Knies just put together the best season of his career. He posted 66 points in 79 games while skating through an injury down the stretch, and he’s signed for five more years at a $7.75 million cap hit. He turns 24 in the fall.
Watch Chayka’s full availability:
That contract and that age are exactly why the phone keeps ringing. A big top-six winger in his prime rarely hits the market, and Knies would command a real haul. Teams already asked about him earlier this offseason.
The Raddysh deal points the other way, though. Toronto handed the defenseman an eight-year contract and wants back in the playoff race right now, and that’s a harder climb without Knies than with him.
Chayka did flag center as “an area of opportunity” this summer, with John Tavares a candidate to slide to the wing and questions around Max Domi’s health. The winger group looks set. Read more on the Raddysh trade here.
Toronto would rather build around Knies than cash him in, and Chayka made that plain on Friday.
