Check out the latest on Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, Predators forward Steven Stamkos, and Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST MATTHEW KNIES SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel, Chris Johnston, and James Mirtle recently examined the fall of the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

Part of their examination was on the Maple Leafs’ efforts to make moves before last month’s trade deadline. Among them were conversations that management reportedly had with the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres involving Leafs winger Matthew Knies.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies (NHL Images).

Those discussions continued up to the deadline, “with marquee Canadiens and Sabres prospects in play.” They noted that Keith Pelley, the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, “later lauded the young talent of both rivals, and in doing so named several young trade targets”.

Those players were Michael Hage, Adam Engstrom, Jacob Fowler, and David Reinbacher of the Canadiens, and Konsta Helenius and Radim Mrtka of the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following the deadline, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said he was involved in talks for a potential blockbuster that didn’t get done in time for the deadline. He didn’t say who the player and the team were, but he didn’t rule out revisiting those discussions in the offseason.

Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos was the first to report that Knies was believed to be the Maple Leaf that the Canadiens were interested in. Subsequent reports claimed those discussions were brief and didn’t go anywhere, while others disputed the rumors that Hughes was indeed pursuing Knies.

This latest report isn’t stating that the Canadiens and Sabres were pitching those players for Knies. They could be the ones that the Leafs were interested in, not the ones being offered up.

We also don’t know if Knies will be available once the Maple Leafs hire their new general manager, if he was even available at all. Kypreos’ colleague, Elliotte Friedman, said before the deadline that the Leafs may have floated his name to gauge what return he might fetch.

Pelley insisted that the Maple Leafs will be retooling instead of rebuilding. If so, Knies would be a valuable part of their roster moving forward.

STEVEN STAMKOS FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN NASHVILLE

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty reports Steven Stamkos is disappointed that the Nashville Predators didn’t qualify for the postseason.

Despite the club’s improvement this season, including his reaching the 40-goal plateau, the 36-year-old forward believes this season was a failure because they didn’t make the playoffs.

Stamkos could be facing an uncertain future after this season. The Predators are searching for a replacement for outgoing general manager Barry Trotz. Stamkos felt his future in Nashville would depend on the new GM’s intentions, whether they want to rebuild and move out the older players or retain them and retool the roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos return to 40-goal form this season made him a frequent subject of media chatter leading up to last month’s trade deadline. He squealched most of it by repeatedly saying he had no intention of waiving his no-movement clause.

Stamkos has two more seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $8 million. His NMC is for the duration of his contract. However, he might be willing to waive it this summer if the incoming GM intends to rebuild.

WHAT WILL IVAN DEMIDOV’S NEXT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE?

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: In a recent mailbag segment, Stu Cowan was asked what Ivan Demidov’s next contract would look like with the Canadiens’ current internal salary-cap hierarchy.

Demidov has one more season remaining on his entry-level contract. The 20-year-old winger can sign an extension starting on July 1.

Noah Dobson is the highest-paid Canadien with an average annual value of $9.5 million. Lane Hutson will be the next highest starting next season at $8.85 million. Cowan thinks Demidov’s next contract will come in somewhere between those two, possibly around $9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ front office has done a brilliant job of getting their promising young stars under reasonable long-term contracts, locking them up for most of their best years. With the salary cap rising substantially, they will have sufficient cap room moving forward to make additions as required through trades and free agency.