NHL Rumor Mill – April 16, 2026
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.
The Leafs embarrassed themselves the last 30 games what kind of organization promotes not trying and losing. If they are truly that bad then they must blow it up and start over. This organization cares only about the bottom line which is important but winning is also important.
As a Sens fan, I actually don’t believe they were trying to tank. They have an absolutely horrible roster who don’t have any connection. Even if they get Mackenna that roster currently built won’t come back from a season like this IMO. When Mathews went down and there was no response, it just showed that the team has no heart. Their defense is in shambles, their forwards with the exception of Knies and Tavares are sub par, so I think what we saw in the last 30 is just a reflection of a really bad team. Personally as a fan of a team in the same division as Toronto and Bruins
I’d rather see the Leafs keep that pick than seeing Boston get it because Boston is a much better team and would make it harder for the Sens to come out on top in the next few seasons.
Obe you know this team the best here. You never say anything outlandish and always on point. I guess one can say, you’re the type of fellow that sees a leaking faucet in his kitchen and immediately starts to renovate his whole kitchen. No one can argue the winning does not boost the bottom line more than anything else.
The Penguins and Oilers come to mind.
Obe. Was goal to keep pick? They’re currently sitting at the 5 spot. If nobody jumps them in lottery, then mission accomplished. Feel like Florida did same, having top 10 protected pick.
You gotta wonder now that Treliving is gone & Leafs in bad need of futures, would they trade that #5 for a huge package of young prospects & picks. How about Vegas 2026 1st & 2027 1st, a few 2nd rounders this year, Zary(retention possible) maybe some of our decent prospects we have could fill some cupboards for Leafs for that #5 pick. I guess Leafs could get a good player at #5 but the cupboards are bare. Same as Florida. I see Conroy having lots of dialogue with both Leafs & Panthers at the draft.
Tanking is a fan concept not a management one, generational players don’t come around every year.
The “bottom line” for teams is all about seats in the stands, playoffs return the biggest profit as players aren’t paid.
Athletes at every level are born competitors and have a need to win (whether they achieve ir not is a different matter) and the best ones hate to lose.
TML fans have had a decade of exciting hockey with great players that many franchises would love to have. While Habs have had more playoff success in the past decade, the TML have been a far better team.
They’re down already, why pile on???
I just do not see Buffalo making such a move at the trade deadline. They finally have made playoffs, with a squad that was below .500 on November 1. Making a significant move just does not make sense, especially with the salary cap challenges they have coming up this summer.
They have a glut of goaltenders, not marquee keepers but good backups. A trade for Ellis or Levi may be in their future.
“with marquee Canadiens and Sabres prospects in play.”
Marquee prospects? Wait what?
Here are the odds I have been seeking as per Leafs finishing 28th and securing a top 5 pick , as per the upcoming 2026 lottery draft which takes place on May 5
Drafting 1st overall – 8.5 %
2nd – 8.5 %
3rd. – .3 %
4th. – 0 %
5th – 41.9 %
56.2- 58.1 % – Drops out of the top 5 – Boston gets their pick
This formula makes little sense to me ..
Does anyone have an input
These are the results I came up with , as per the Leafs drafting within the top 5 picks of this years draft
Drafting 1st – 8.5 %
2nd 8.5 %
3rd .3 %
4th 0^
5th 41.9%
These stats make No sense to me – Foes anyone have any input
As per the chances the Islanders drafting within the top 5 last year – the odds were 3.5 %
We all know what the outcome was …..
Leafs get a top 2 pick and Matthews stays…..
BTW, Leafs held locker cleanout day today, yeah it was early this year.
Matthews on his future: “I can’t predict the future […] They have to hire new leadership at management and stuff like that. So, I don’t really know. Like I said, I can’t predict the future.”
Correction as per my first comment
The chances the Leafs pick 5 th overall are 24.5%
The over all chances of Leafs picking in the top 5 are 41.9%
Which is even more devastating
Drafting 26 – 15.4 %
27 – 13.5 %
Bottom teams record last 10 games
Rangers 6-4
Devils 5-4-1
Florida 5-4-1
St. Louis 6-3-1
Winnipeg 5-5
Chicago 2-7-1
Vancouver 4-6
Calgary 3-5-2
Leafs 2-7-1 Last 40 games 13-20-7
Seems to me with that roster they could have been at least 500 team.
P.S go bruins go and have to renovate the kitchen now
I like Michael Knies but if Michael Hage, Adam Engstrom, Jacob Fowler, and David Reinbacher were the trade targets- hard pass from me.
The only one I’d include in a trade is Adam Engstrom.
David Reinbacher has been hidden on account of injuries but watching him in Laval and a couple of games recently with the Habs, the kid is for real.
You gotta wonder now that Treliving is gone & Leafs in bad need of futures, would they trade that #5 for a huge package of young prospects & picks. How about Vegas 2026 1st & 2027 1st, a few 2nd rounders this year, Zary(retention possible) maybe some of our decent prospects we have could fill some cupboards for Leafs for that #5 pick. I guess Leafs could get a good player at #5 but the cupboards are bare. Same as Florida. I see Conroy having lots of dialogue with both Leafs & Panthers at the draft.
Potlicker, from 2018 to 2026, the Dubas-Treleving combination managed to trade away 36 picks, 7 of them 1st rounders. That alone has elements of Leafs Nation seething, so I doubt very much they’d have the stomach to start off the tenure of whoever becomes GM by dealing away a potential top 5 pick that could evolve into a 1st overall with any kind of luck. Bad luck being, as noted in Koshan’s column in the Toronto Sun this morning “if a team higher than Toronto in the standings wins the draft lottery on May 5, the Leafs will be knocked out of the top five and the first-round pick will go to the Boston Bruins.”