Chicago is not backing off Matthew Knies and the Maple Leafs have a real decision to make

The Blackhawks are insistent on acquiring Matthew Knies and may be willing to give up the 4th overall pick and Toronto really has a tough decision ahead of the draft.

For months, speculation surrounding Matthew Knies' future with the Maple Leafs has been rampant. There was a reported Montreal deal that was more hearsay than anything, and there was heavy interest from teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.

Trading Knies may be a crazy decision but if it adds a true #1 defender, a top-10 pick, and potentially a 2C as well, that's a whole lot of valuable pieces in exchange for a winger. Toronto could find themselves two superstars in the top-five and set themselves up for success now and down the line.

Blackhawks are still fighting hard for Matthew Knies and might be willing to pay heavily for him

Well, if John Chayka is actually serious that he's shopping Knies (and many belief he's bluffing) then it's going to have to be for a haul, and the Blackhawks once again come back into the conversation.

The Blackhawks aren't shy about wanting to add a winger for Connor Bedard, and Knies makes perfect sense to slot alongside the winger.

And according to some ESPN insiders, they aren't really shy about putting together a big package that could include this year's fourth overall pick:

Toronto continues to field calls on Matthew Knies. The Blackhawks have been interested for a while, as Knies (23) fits their age range to grow with Connor Bedard and the rest of their emerging core. The No. 4 pick from Chicago is absolutely in play.

While there is no concrete evidence that Chayka is actively shopping Knies, but instead just fielding potential offers, it is interesting to see what Chicago could give up. We touched previously on him being able to bring in a young defensive player along with a 2C, but with that pick in play it changes things.

Knies and the 60th pick in the draft for the fourth overall pick, Sam Rinzel and Anton Frondell seems like it would be an overpayment from Chicago, but there have been rumblings they are listening to offers on Frondell, and the Maple Leafs could use Rinzel as a young mobile puck-mover for their second-pair.

Toronto shouldn't immediately trade Knies, but use this package to gauge how far others are willing to go

Yes, you're getting a potential superstar in Frondell, and Rinzel is a young player who only has one season under his belt, and he's only 21 - there's lots of time. Also, this is certainly a package that Chayka should field in order to scare other teams into potentially overpaying.

He could say 'Hey, they're offering this. Outbid them.' That would give him more flexibility and since he's already fairly sheepish on dealing Knies, it wouldn't hurt to see what he could get that may twist his arm.

If there's a chance for Toronto to get not only Gavin McKenna but potentially a player like Chase Reid, Ivar Stenberg, or Caleb Malhotra would be an incredible coup at the cost of Knies, but you're also adding two young pieces who will be at the bare minimum very good NHL players.

We also don't know what Knies' ceiling is and there is a world out there where he already showed his max potential and is a 65-point player who gives you 150+ hits. That's still pretty good but in comparison to a top centre, defender, and top-five prospect? It's almost apples to oranges.

Which is why if John Chayka is serious about trading Knies, the Blackhawks are one of the only teams with the firepower to make it a worthwhile decision. Anything less is fruitless.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Giving up Matthew Knies hurts but Zach Werenski is the one guy who makes you think