Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies might've been the problem in Zach Werenski trade talks
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Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies might've been the problem in Zach Werenski trade talks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs were linked to trade talks for Columbus Blue Jackets superstar defenseman Zach Werenski.
In the end, though, Werenski put out a statement indicating he doesn't plan on going anywhere.
As it turns out, Matthew Knies may have actually been the hold-up.
Most speculation about Knies in recent months has had him as a Toronto trade candidate. A recent report from The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta indicates, though, that the Maple Leafs may have tried to do the Werenski trade without Knies.
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Pagnotta's report essentially says the Blue Jackets were asked if they'd do a deal for Werenski without Knies, and the Leafs were told no.
It certainly makes sense for the Blue Jackets to hold firm on this. Werenski is one of the best players in hockey.
You can see why they'd want Knies -- a 23-year old winger who is uber-talented and on an affordable contract relative to his abilities.
You can also see, for those same reasons, why the Maple Leafs might actually want to hold on to Knies.
But at some point, you've got to give something to get something. If Toronto really did miss out on getting Werenski by refusing to include Knies, that could prove costly.
Of course, the report doesn't go that far. It doesn't show what a full deal might've looked like.
It just suggests that Toronto may not be as enthused about trading Knies as some have suggested -- and that the Maple Leafs may have at least partially pulled themselves out of the running for Werenski by not using Knies as a trade piece.