Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – April 5, 2026
It’s an all-Maple Leafs edition of the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup. Check out the ongoing speculation involving winger Matthew Knies and defenseman Morgan Rielly, plus the latest on their GM search.
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos recently reported that Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies continues to come up in trade rumors even though the Maple Leafs fired general manager Brad Treliving last week.
One source told Kypreos that Treliving’s asking price for Knies was one of three options: two first-round picks and a high-end prospect; one first-rounder and two high-end prospects; or three high-end prospects.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies (NHL Images).
Kypreos claimed the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens were among the teams involved in those talks. He also said a big problem for those clubs was how late the asking price was set before the March trade deadline.
It remains to be seen what Treliving’s replacement will do regarding Knies. They could pick up those talks, or they could hang onto Knies and reassure the big winger that he’ll play an important role in the re-tooling of the roster.
During Friday’s episode of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Kypreos’ colleague Elliotte Friedman believes the Maple Leafs and Canadiens were discussing Knies, “even though everyone’s denying it.”
He doesn’t believe Canadiens prospect center Michael Hage was part of it, but he thinks a lot of people suspect he was because Keith Pelley, the president of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, mentioned the young prospect during his press conference last week.
BARN BURNER PODCAST: TSN’s Darren Dreger said the Maple Leafs were in trade discussions with the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens before the deadline. However, he doesn’t know whether Knies would likely have been traded.
Dreger mentioned that it’s believed Treliving spoke with the Canadiens about Hage and with the Sabres about prospect defenseman Radim Mrtka. Those were two names that Pelley mentioned in his presser last week.
TVA SPORTS: referenced Dreger saying the Canadiens and Sabres weren’t happy with Pelley for mentioning Hage and Mrtka. He pointed out that those two players have been mentioned in trade rumors for some time.
Dreger believes everything points to Hage being a big part of the Canadiens’ future. However, he also thinks rival general managers have pulled out all the stops to try to acquire him in a major trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Conflicting reports all around about whether the Leafs were entertaining trade offers for Knies before the deadline and which players were being offered up for him. Mrtka was mentioned as part of a failed trade between the Sabres and St. Louis Blues that would’ve sent him to St. Louis for Colton Parayko, who used his no-trade clause to spike that deal.
Whatever the truth, Kypreos is right when he said it will be up to Treliving’s replacement to decide if they will revisit those discussions or keep Knies for the retooling process.
SPORTSNET: Kypreos also wondered what the future would hold for long-time Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly. He claimed that “many industry sources” believe the club will be looking at various options to move on from the 32-year-old blueliner.
Rielly has four years left on his contract and a full no-movement clause. A contract buyout is unlikely because of the remaining term. Kypreos expects they’ll try to convince the veteran rearguard to waive his clause for a “creative trade and send him to a place of his liking.”
According to Kypreos, teams see in Rielly a “good and serviceable player” who could be rejuvenated with the right team. However, the Maple Leafs might have to retain up to half of his $7.5 million average annual value, and perhaps add a sweetener like a draft pick.
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports Rielly is uneasy about his future in the wake of the changes in the Maple Leafs’ front office. There has to be an expectation on his part that he will be asked to consider waiving his no-movement clause.
Koshan doesn’t rule out a contract buyout, which would be at two-thirds the remaining value of Rielly’s contract over twice the remaining term. He pointed out that a buyout would save the Maple Leafs $4 million in each of the next four years, with the buyout cap hit in the final four years at $2 million annually.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly could still have value to other clubs, but it’s doubtful they’ll want to take on the full remaining value of his contract. For the Leafs, it could come down to which move makes the most sense for their long-term salary-cap payroll.
If they retain half of his AAV, that’s $3.75 million annually against their cap through 2029-30. However, a buyout will drag on for eight years, even with those savings mentioned by Koshan. That’s a long time to carry dead cap space.
SPORTSNET (VIA KUKLA’S KORNER) Elliotte Friedman provided an update on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ search for a new general manager.
St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong has been linked to the Maple Leafs, but Friedman believes the timing doesn’t seem right.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armstrong is set to hand over the management reins to Alexander Steen at the end of this season. However, he’s under contract with the Blues as their team president, meaning the Maple Leafs would have to seek permission from Blues ownership to speak with him.
Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta is expected to be among those on the Maple Leafs’ list.
Interesting times in Toronto.
That could be said for a half dozen teams (probably your point) though, maybe not to this extent but close… Wings, Nucks, NYR, to name three…easy to name three more.
Maybe Gary is a genius…🤩
Calgary gives Pospisil, Vegas 1st and the NYR 2nd and Sens 2nd for Knies
Oh come on, Johnny! That’s ridiculous. That doesn’t even scratch the surface of what Treliving was asking for.
Ok, Calgary gives Frost, 2026 and 2027 Vegas 1sts, and the 2027 Vegas 2nd
Now this should gain the Leaf’ attention!
Johnny Z
No chance Toronto takes that package, especially since CGY has asked for the moon from TOR in previous trade discussions.
If Knies is truly available there will be a bidding war for him. The return would be better than a 3C that’s topped out at 25 points and a few late round lottery tickets
The Leafs need to be realistic about their future. Trading Knies creates a large hole but will it really fill the others?
The Leafs need a RW to play on the first line. They need a true #1 defenceman.
They also need a coach that isn’t afraid to allow young players to play. Berube seems to be a coach that would rather lose with his vets than take a chance on young players. It’s why they lost Steeves as a UFA and Minten in trade because Berube would rather play the likes of Lorentz or Jarnkrok than a rookie like Minten.
Maybe the Leafs are going to appoint Hayley Wickenheiser as GM with some other people insulating her in that role?
Just a thought.
It makes more sense for the Leafs to buyout Rielly that to trade him while retaining half his salary and adding a draft pick or prospect since they have so few already.
In 4 years the cap will be much higher than it is now and that $2M will be equivalent to a fourth line player’s salary
It makes more sense to move Rielly down the line up than it does to trade him and retain half his salary. In two years his contract goes from NMC to a 10 team NTC.
I read somewhere that this site is always all about the Leafs. Oh wait. Lol.
I don’t see at this point of a Reilly buyout or retaining salary in a trade. The Leafs have plenty of cap space this year and no significant players that need a new contract. Coaches need to be disciplined and play him as a 3rd pairing defensemen. You can buy him out once you have to renew Matthews contract or when a significant free agent is available. The leafs should be not signing any free agent to significant dollars or term this summer.
I’ve always liked Reilly.Buying him out makes no sense. Not a Leafs fan but I’d keep him over McCabe and OEL. OEL has less term and partial ntc. More palatable cap hit for an interested team. He’s also older.
To Leafs: Raddysh, Vaakanainen.
To NYR: Reilly (50% retained) N Robertson. (bait to get his brother to sign OS)
Isles Eiserman or Atischson, 2 1st rounders for Knies
That might work out. Isles would sooner deal Aitcheson than Eiserman.
If the Habs were willing to trade Hage for Knies, the trade would have happened at the trade deadline.
LJ
You may be on to something but it would not have been a 1 for 1 swap.
What other pieces do you think would be involved? Not necessarily just from MTL.
It seems that rumours about Treliving were that he waited too long to make his trades and set his ask.
Agreed LJ. Habs are not trading Hage.
As I’ve said before, the Leafs should not trade Knies, not even if Matthews and/or Nylander are moved out. He’s a good young player to rebuild around. Excuse me, retool.
Even if Knies is traded I doubt it would be in the division. But assuming it would be a possibility, I’d offer up Zharovsky and two firsts. It looks quite likely that the Habs first year will be near the bottom of the round. So can offer Zharovsky, this years first and lottery protected 2027 first.
If the Leafs would prefer a second prospect rather than a second first rounder, the Habs can offer up Beck, Roy or Pickford but I’m not sure that would be enough. Reinbacher would be a tough decision. I would trade him for the right deal but that might open up an organizational hole at RD. Engstrom might be a possibility.
Let’s bear in mind that this speculation comes from Kypreos. Not the best of sources. And also that the GM with whom Hughes allegedly had talks is no longer on the job.