The Toronto Maple Leafs Have Just Found the Next Matthew Knies
Photo credit: Imagn Images
With the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to potentially replace Mitch Marner, it would appear as though a trade with the Minnesota Wild could solve their problems.
Mitch Marner is probably leaving in free agency. If this happens, then the Maple Leafs will have a glaring hole in their top six.
Furthermore, they have to re-sign Matthew Knies and John Tavares, who are also pivotal members of the team's forward group.
Replacing Marner with another Marner would be impossible. However, replacing Mitch with another Knies is actually a lot more feasible.
Will the Minnesota Wild trade Marco Rossi?
According to Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff, the next Knies may have just fallen in the Leafs' lap, at least that is if they play their cards right.
Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild could very well be on the trading block this offseason. The 23-year-old is fresh off a season in which he had 24 goals and 60 points.
Overall, he is due for a nice payday, and there is a ton of uncertainty in Minnesota right now. If the Leafs were willing to pay the price, Rossi could be a wonderful option.
Rossi himself seemed to cast some doubt on his future in the State of Hockey at his season-ending press conference, saying: «I don't know. We'll see.»
He's due for a big raise and the question is: Do the Wild want to pay him? It's a tough spot because Minnesota could use more center depth, not less, but Rossi slid to the fourth line in the playoffs.
But GM Bill Guerin's original first-round pick in Minnesota would command a price in a thin center market - and perhaps he could swing a deal much like the one for the last RFA they chose to move on from in Kevin Fiala.
He's due for a big raise and the question is: Do the Wild want to pay him? It's a tough spot because Minnesota could use more center depth, not less, but Rossi slid to the fourth line in the playoffs.
But GM Bill Guerin's original first-round pick in Minnesota would command a price in a thin center market - and perhaps he could swing a deal much like the one for the last RFA they chose to move on from in Kevin Fiala.
Rossi is almost the same age as Matthew Knies and has very similar production. Moreover, he isn't even close to the prime of his career.
He could be a player who can bridge the gap in Marner's absence. Sure, he would not be a perfect replacement, but he would be a solid one nonetheless.
Either way, this is yet another move that general manager Brad Treliving should consider heading into July 1st.
| POLL | ||
MAI 27 | 371 ANSWERS The Toronto Maple Leafs Have Just Found the Next Matthew Knies Should the Toronto Maple Leafs trade for Marco Rossi? | ||
| YES | 201 | 54.2 % |
| NO | 170 | 45.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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