A Leafs–Canadiens blockbuster trade almost happened at the NHL trade deadline… and it could STILL happen this offseason.
Reports and speculation suggested the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens discussed a massive deal centered around Matthew Knies and Kaiden Guhle — two young core pieces for their franchises.
In this video we break down the FULL hypothetical trade:
Toronto Maple Leafs receive
Kaiden Guhle
Michael Hage
Arber Xhekaj
Montreal Canadiens receive
Matthew Knies
Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit
Would the Leafs actually move Matthew Knies?
Would Montreal really give up Kaiden Guhle?
And most importantly… WHO WINS THIS TRADE?
We break down:
• Why this deal almost happened at the deadline
• Why it could still happen this offseason
• Player value and team needs
• Who wins the trade right now
• Who wins it long term
Leafs fans and Canadiens fans will definitely have strong opinions about this one.
Drop your thoughts in the comments:
WHO WINS THIS TRADE?
#LeafsForever #GoHabsGo #NHLTradeRumors
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@Montreal Canadiens
23 Comments
A big trade with Boston wasn’t enough… gotta trade with Montreal too………
So Knies is this year’s scapegoat.😂😂 Guhle isn’t going anywhere
Guhle+Kapanen+1st for Knies+Carlo
Knies has 29 goals ?…Matthews leads the Laffs with 27🤫🤫🤫🤫
The fact that Treiling was even talking to Montreal after the Boston debacle should be more than enough to fire his ass..
As a Habs fan I would LOVE Matthews Knies, he’s exactly the type of player we need in terms of the physicality and compete he has + the skill of course
As a Life Long Toronto Maple Leaf fan, I am losing my mind at some of the POTENTIAL STUPID trades being bounced around. We spent 2 yrs developing a really good hockey player and now trade him to MONTREAL of all teams… History is not supposed repeat itself but obviously from Pelly down to Berube (poor guy) are not clear in their head. GET RID of MATTHERWS and NYLANDER and then start down but Knies? CAlle Jarnkrok, Morgan Reilly, Steven Lorentz, Max Domi are 4 others you could trade and try and get something out of them, WE ARE NOT.
Trading your best future captain for a bunch of young nobodies makes no sense. Gotta trade Mathews and Nylander not your best future all round star. And why keep old guys like JT and get rid of Knies who has nothing but potential.
Leafs will have to go on a rebuild hence that trade actually makes perfect sense for them.
We just throwing the word Blockbuster around like we do GOAT now? Lol Sam Carrick to Buffalo is a Blockbuster trade then
Treliving's ass has to go. This ENTIRE club needs a cleanup from the top down, Matthews, Tavares et al. have to be traded ASAP.
Guhle is unavailable. It’s Hage the main return they want according to reports out of Montreal.Eric Engels said last night that he has a good idea who the players are but he wont reveal it. Sounds like Hage , not Guhle
From trade rumor/ mock trade
To leafs
F Patrick Laine
RD Prospect Bryce Pickford
C/LW Prospect Riley Kidney
1st in 2026
1st in 2027
4th in 2026
To Habs
F Mathew Kines
RD Troy Stecher
This is a Toronto bs story.
I'm remembering this now, Kent Hughes had a great relationship with brad Treliving in Calgary, they made a couple trades
The fact that Matthew knies almost went to the habs would be huge tbh would have interesting to see what we would’ve gotten in return the fact that Brad does not take chances for good players come on Brad
If Carlo was an actual shut down d man maybe the leafs would have a few more wins 😂
If the Habs trade Guhle, I will be seriously pissed. In addition to being reliable defensively, he is one of our only dmen who actually hit.
I’d need Owen Beck in the deal if I’m the Leafs
Cottonelle Carl is not a top four defenceman. Treeliving screwed up the Carlo trade big time, along with the Scotty Too Rotten Laughton trade. He is damaging the Leafs pretty well the way he destroyed the Calgary Flames when he was their GM. Never trust someone with that kind of checkered past to make major decisions for your hockey team.
Habs Fan, you know what, I really don't hate this trade for either team. I find value you is there. Though for both teams there is the risk facing you're once buddy/team mate. Which is got to be see hard. For me how does Carlo feel, once a Bruin now a leaf, too his rival. Is he 100% bought in…? I wouldn't blame him, if I were in his shoes.
Thats an absolute horrrible trade for toronto…. Knies gunna be a 70-80 pt guy id say in his prime. Id say Hage would be 2nd line centre . maybe getting 70 pts bbut Knies has the size power forward unicorn status so I value knies higher then Hage, Then I value Simon higher then Arbber , Arbers like a 7th deoth dman. with zero offensive upside. Simon value bit more then him. Then Carlo and Guhle.. Guhle cant stay healthy. Exactly what the leafs need another dman who cant stay in the lineu they already have Tanev, Carlo could be a 2nd pair guy. Right handed which always hold a bit of a premium. To me thats a dead no for Toronto. Would much prefer a Futures deal like Engstrom+Hage+1st
Are you crazy