The Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars reportedly held discussions about a potential trade that would have sent young winger Matthew Knies to Dallas in exchange for the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft.
Notably, the Stars would have acquired the pick from the Seattle Kraken as part of a now-collapsed sign-and-trade deal involving restricted free agent Jason Robertson.
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Leafs have been actively looking for another top-10 pick at this year’s draft as part of any deal involving Knies. The Maple Leafs reportedly explored the possibility of the Stars flipping the Kraken’s No. 7 selection for Knies, who could have replaced Robertson’s production in Dallas.
“As I’ve reported, #Leafs are seeking another Top 10 pick in 2026 #NHLDraft. Sources say Toronto and Dallas had talks about Stars potentially flipping No. 7 overall from #SeaKraken in a deal for Matthew Knies to help replace Jason Robertson. All part of Thursday’s shrapnel,” reported Seravalli on X.
Matthew Knies is currently under contract with the Leafs through the 2030-31 season at a $7.75 million cap hit. According to reports, the Leafs are actively listening to trade calls for the 23-year-old.
However, striking a deal does not appear easy for interested teams, as Toronto has set the bar high with demands of a top-10 pick or high-end prospects.
Jason Robertson reportedly rejects trade to Seattle Kraken
Jason Robertson has reportedly rejected a trade to the Seattle Kraken. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Kraken had offered him an eight-year, $120 million contract with an annual average value (AAV) of $15 million.
As part of the package, the Kraken had offered the Stars a first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the upcoming draft on Friday. Currently, Mikko Rantanen is the highest-paid player on the roster, signed to an eight-year, $96 million contract with an AAV of $12 million.
The club hopes to keep Robertson’s deal below that, making it a challenge for them in negotiations this offseason. Robertson declined not only the Kraken but also the St. Louis Blues, who were reportedly offering multiple first-round picks to the Stars as a package, with the 26-year-old stating he had no interest in signing with the Blues.
Edited by Abhishek Dilta