29 Sep 2026 04:18:12
Definitely mixed feelings about the trade today. I’m sure I’m not alone. Merchenko adds the immediate offensive boost while opening up the left wing for McKenna and Cowan, but I do think the Leafs will now be searching for a Matthew Knies. I don’t love the contract that they gave out, especially for a guy that has never played for them… we were able to dump Lorentz and Andre but they dumped Wood which I thought was a good player but doesn’t look like it and we got another goalie…? Yes I know he’s out long term but I haven’t seen anything say for the whole season… all in all I’ll remain optimistic but like I said I have mixed feelings about it but clearly something was seen by two management groups that got Knies moved.

1.) 29 Sep 2026
29 Sep 2026 04:17:57
I really want to know what makes Mathew Knies so special to this fan base. I just don't see it.

People act like this guy is Wendal Clark back in town.

Knies has never had 70 points, he does not fight, he does not hit the way people make it sound, he is a below average skater and he is very poor defensively. Never mind his advanced numbers, which are absurdly bad because his hockey IQ is not good.

What is it about this kid that made every Leafs fan think he was the second coming? I seriously don't get it.

Somebody really needs to point to something other than "Knies has grit" for me to understand the love affair with him. Solid middle 6 forward on a good contract. That's all I see him as.

This year in Columbus, I'm surprised if he hits 50 points with those linemates. He was always with JT or Mathews and great off wing, now he gets to drive his own line. Let's see how that goes.

Maybe I'm wrong and Knies wins 8 cups with 3 Harts, I just don't see it.

2.) 29 Sep 2026
29 Sep 2026 07:46:10
@LL For me personally it’s just the fact that the Leafs had a power forward that had size that was willing to fight. No, he didn’t do it a lot but he was one of like three guys in the league who scored 20+ goals and had 200+ hits. Those are rare stat lines. Then like you said he was on a great deal. He was more invested in the city of Toronto than his captain stayed in town after the season and supported the Marlies and Blue Jays.

Idk to me he’s a good core piece for a team and I thought he would of been a Leafs for a long time. Because now who do they have in there top six that plays with edge… it’s all skill player which is what you want but you need other elements too just my thought tho.

3.) 29 Sep 2026
29 Sep 2026 08:54:59
For a guy like Marchenko. This trade made total sense for the Leafs. You now have a solidified RW plus a solidified LW. You are deep at C. How can ppl not see this was a solid move? This guy is 26yrs old, not like u traded for a 30+ yr old and gave up a 24yr old for him. The guy will raise your PP, 5on5. He’s dynamic. Top 6 is going to be scary. Especially now that we have a deep bottom 6.

They can take on more defensive responsibility and allow top 6 to take on majority of offensive responsibility. Made perfect sense. Allowing Cowan and McKenna to play their natural Wing position is huge as well. Smart trade. Leafs definitely got the best player in this deal by far. Now hopefully Werenski wants out and Leafs snag him too at the deadline ??

4.) 29 Sep 2026
29 Sep 2026 10:54:38
Man, our powerplay is full of talent now. We may not have scored much on it in the past but now, we may have the best powerplay with Matthews, March-Nylander-JT and Rad. That alone is exciting.

I like the trade. Marchenko is far superior to Knies in skating, shooting and hockey sense which makes our Leafs more dangerous.



ChaykaCon has some pretty slick moves and made this team exciting.

I'm excitied for puck drop so, gonna work hard knowing our team is ready to do the same.

GO TEAM GO!

5.) 29 Sep 2026
29 Sep 2026 11:07:06
Marchenko might not have the hitting game that Knies had (P.S. @ Goat Knies has never had a 200 hit season) but Marchenko works the boards very well and has a better defensive game to go along with his offensive game.

I am not sure many teams will be breathing a sigh of relief they don’t have to face the vaunted enforcer Knies who in his 3 fights took on vaunted heavyweight fighters such as Nico Hischier lol.

6.) 29 Sep 2026
29 Sep 2026 12:41:29
It's probably a fair deal overall. Leafs flipped Andrae to help get Marchenko. I was never big on that Flyer trade anyway. I don't think it is two GM's wanting to trade Knies. At the TDL, teams inquired about Knies and Tre listened. Ultimately he kept him, so hard to say he was wanting to move Knies. Tre got bashed for not making enough moves and not being willing to trade core pieces and now Chayka will get it for moving core pieces and too much overhaul. Tre brought in the wrong players it was said. If the bottom 6 doesn't show improvement this year, then Chayka will hear it that he brought in the wrong players and he will have McKenna and a more mature Cowan that Tre didn't. Obviously it will be the results is what will matter.


As for Knies, he's good player on a good value contract. One of the only talented big bodies the Leafs had that would play physical. But as I have said before, he is not a bone crushing hitter, he is not a fighter, he does not stand up for teammates the way many other big men in the league do. Knies physicality stood out because of the lack of physicality on the Leafs top 6. Domi looked physical in comparison and he isn't really that physical a player. The concern is obviously about whether the Leafs have gone too skilled in the top 6 and will now lack enough physicality in tough games even more so than before. See how it goes moving forward, as the final product this year isn't likely complete.

7.) 29 Sep 2026
29 Sep 2026 14:15:16
@ goat2.0 Ummm who else plays with an edge? Right, so Cowan for sure saw that in his rookie year fighting a giant on Boston for one. Marchenko for two if ya saw last year when Knies lined him up and he skated thru him like he wasn’t even there put him into the ref and hurt his shoulder.

And if RLF is right or at least I believe he’s on to something Lawson Crouse would give us three in just our top 6! 50% player edge split with high end skill is pretty insane I think. No? It’s our D that’s the problem.

8.) 30 Sep 2026
29 Sep 2026 21:39:06
Who would you get for a D upgrade though? And what would you give up?