Montreal’s aggressive pursuit of Matthew Knies offered a clear window into the exact type of forward Kent Hughes wants flanking Ivan Demidov: size, finishing ability, and the puck-retrieval strength to complement a creative winger.
At the 2025-26 trade deadline, Sportsnet reported that a deal for the Toronto Maple Leafs power forward was submitted roughly one minute too late. The package Toronto was set to receive included Alexander Zharovsky, another prospect, and two first-round picks. That razor-thin delay kept Knies in Toronto. Hughes then turned to the Columbus Blue Jackets in an attempt to land Kirill Marchenko, only to fall short once more. Montreal’s biggest remaining need remains a top-six forward—preferably a centre—but the Knies chase adds a revealing layer to that search.
Beside Demidov, a player who can finish chances, win battles for possession, and handle physical matchups would free the young playmaker to spend more time creating rather than fighting for the puck. That complementary profile is precisely what Knies represented.
Spector’s Hockey dug deeper into the Sportsnet reporting by Emily Sadler that confirmed the Canadiens still wanted to make a big move. The Canadiens were linked to Knies at the March deadline and to Marchenko during the summer. While Hughes and the organization prefer a second-line centre to skate alongside Demidov, the reports do not state that is the only piece they seek. Adding the 23-year-old Knies would have delivered a controllable top-six forward on a respectable $7.75 million contract running for the next five seasons.
Toronto’s refusal to move him is understandable. If general manager John Chayka was reluctant to package Knies in a deal for Zach Werenski, it is difficult to envision what Montreal could have offered that would have been superior. Knies is signed to a team-friendly deal for several years, remains years from his prime, and was on pace for a 97-point season before a knee injury forced him to play more cautiously and contributed to a production dip. He is also one of the most unique pieces available in the league. In 2024-25 he was one of only three players to record 25-plus goals and 150-plus hits, joining Brady Tkachuk and Tom Wilson. With questions surrounding Auston Matthews’ long-term future in Toronto, Knies provides a foundational building block and potential leader as the next generation arrives. That combination of production, physicality, and timeline is why Chayka has little interest in moving him.
Keeping Knies in the fold robs the Canadiens of an immediate upgrade and prevents them from further cementing themselves as a powerhouse in the Atlantic Division. It also forces Montreal to pivot toward targets they may have to pay more for, such as Dylan Larkin—another Atlantic centre who fits the second-line need next to Demidov.
The rest of the division has shifted as well. The Ottawa Senators lost Brady Tkachuk, Detroit continues to deal with structural dysfunction, Buffalo traded Bowen Byram, and Tampa Bay parted with both Darren Raddysh and Nick Paul. The Florida Panthers acquired Tkachuk while largely keeping their core intact in hopes of reclaiming dominance. The Boston Bruins quietly improved and reached the 100-point mark last season. Amid that landscape, the Canadiens remain arguably the most well-rounded team in the division.
Montreal may ultimately solve its top-six need with a centre rather than a winger. Yet the Knies pursuit still supplies a useful clue about the player Hughes is prepared to pay a significant price for: a young, physical top-six forward who can make life easier for Demidov and allow the creative winger to dictate play rather than constantly battle for possession. That vision remains central to how the Canadiens intend to build around their emerging star.