A leaked trade offer for Zach Werenski shows the Maple Leafs could be able to hang onto Matthew Knies but only if they don't mind losing Ben Danford and Easton Cowan.
July 1 is going to be a hectic and exciting day as we'll see numerous free agents signed as well as potentially a few stunning trades that shake up the landscape of the NHL for the foreseeable future.
Among the names who have been in play are Jason Robertson, Dylan Larkin, and Zach Werenski and if any of those three were to be traded away then it would bring back a massive haul. The latter especially given his status as a Norris Trophy winner and the Maple Leafs are reportedly right in the thick of it.
Dreger says the deal is built around Cowan and Danford, not Knies
A lot of talk surrounding a Werenski deal to Toronto has centred around Matthew Knies and it is seemingly like all reports have pointed to him being included however that may not completely be the case.
Take it with a grain of salt given his track record, but TSN's Darren Dreger reported on First Up that the Maple Leafs' offer to the Blue Jackets does not include Knies at all, but instead two of the team's top prospects in Easton Cowan and Ben Danford:
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If so, that would be a stunning turnaround for the Maple Leafs considering they can keep their core intact and bring Knies into the fold along with Werenski. That would create a powerhouse that instantly becomes playoff contenders, and with other moves to be made to open up cap space and bring in the proper pieces - it's a huge coup if pulled off.
The real question becomes whether this is a good enough package for Columbus
There's no doubt that both Cowan and Danford will be good to great NHL players in their career, but Knies is a unicorn. He can give you 30 goals, 150+ hits, playmaking, defence, speed, is only 23 and on an extremely reasonable deal for the next five years.
Columbus for all intents and purposes has been trying to get an NHL-ready player who can help the team now. Cowan can certainly step in after a solid rookie campaign but Knies has two straight seasons of above average production and GM Don Waddell may want to become competitive a little sooner.
The team was just on the outside of the playoff bubble and they're likely looking at Knies as a piece to push them over the top. However, they do lose a gigantic part of their identity and game plan in losing Werenski. Perhaps they feel Knies is capable of hitting 75-80 points and replacing that production up front instead.
For Toronto, it's almost a no-brainer, especially if Werenski wants to extend long-term and it'll give Auston Matthews a lot more confidence in not only the team's chances now, but in the future. They've got all the stars locked down with Gavin McKenna coming in.
Losing Cowan and Danford certainly hurts, but if Columbus is willing to take them instead of Knies then it might just be the difference between a playoff exit and lifting the Cup.
Would you trade Easton Cowan and Ben Danford for Zach Werenski?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Chasing Zach Werenski could cost the Maple Leafs more than they realize