Thursday came news that Dylan Larkin wanted out of Detroit and TSN Overdrive's panel discussed whether it's worth trading Matthew Knies for him.
Elliotte Friedman reported that Dylan Larkin requested a trade out of Detroit, and it means one of the best centres on the market is available. The Toronto Maple Leafs need a new 2C to stabilize the lineup, and TSN's Overdrive panel discussed whether the need for that pivot is worth the cost of Matthew Knies.
Larkin wanting out of Detroit makes a lot of sense given that the 29-year old has legitimately played more Olympic Games with Team USA than he has playoff games with Detroit. But there's no doubt he's one of the top centres in the game, just coming off his fifth-straight 30-goal season and he's one of the better defensive players you can get.
The TSN Overdrive panel looked at trading Matthew Knies for Dylan Larkin and could not do it
That certainly seems like the perfect person to help stabilize Toronto's second line and give them exactly what they need to improve up the middle and give John Tavares a bit less responsibility as he gets older, but that price is going to be high.
TSN's Overdrive panel talked about that price on Thursday, and with the rumours surrounding Matthew Knies lately, they wonder if it's worth paying to upgrade down the middle:
A 23 year old guy who can score 30, we're talking a 30 year old guy who scores 30. Knies is cost certainty...we haven't even seen his healthy prime. Knies might be a guy who would be untouchable for me, you have to see what's coming back. - Jamie McLennan
I think he had his moments last year, wasn't a great year obviously but I think he is one of those wingers, much like I was, who can shoot the puck, score goals; but the better my centreman played, the better I did. If we get the Auston Matthews of old, the 69-goal scorer, that's going to elevate Knies. - Jeff O'Neill
Whatever John Chayka is going to do, he knows he needs to have a top-six that complements each other. Whether this is a retooling or you're trying to be competitive you need someone to play with Knies and Nylander. - Jamie McLennan
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That seems like a pretty firm no from the panel in terms of trading Knies for Larkin, and it's that first sentence from McLennan alone that should end all conversation. At only 23 and years away from his prime, Knies has proven he can be a 30+ goal scorer who also adds 25-30 assists and 150+ hits.
Matthew Knies is the future Maple Leafs captain and trading him would be preposterous
It's understandable why Toronto would pursue Larkin given his history with Auston Matthews and his genuine ability to improve the top-six and power-play. But not at the cost of Knies.
As good as Larkin is, you're also paying a higher salary than Knies ($8.7-million) and until he's 34 years old. For contrast, Knies is signed at $7.75-million until he's 28. So you're getting Knies up until Larkin's age where he is firmly in his prime, and at a very reasonable deal.
That right there is argument enough to say no thank you and find a different path to the 2C, but you're also risking trading the future captain of the team.
We still don't know what Auston Matthews is going to do, Morgan Rielly might be out of town, John Tavares could be close to retirement, and we don't know how Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna are going to be as leaders - they're still kids.
So that leaves Knies as the guy who has a bunch of experience under his belt, and going to be just reaching his prime years at the same time Matthews potentially heads out. He's also a dedicated supporter of the city as a whole and that love and passion will translate on the ice as he continues to grow.
Larkin's addition to the lineup would be great. But he's not a 6-foot-3, 232 pound lightning bolt who scores goals, throws crushing hits and isn't even 25 years old. Trading Knies would be the worst idea possible.
Do you think Matthew Knies should be untouchable in trade talks?
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