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.