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A proposal to get Sidney Crosby into a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform has been given a big thumbs down by Leafs Nation because it involved 22-year-old Matthew Knies.

If Sidney Crosby becomes available at the trade deadline — and it’s a big IF — he can make any team he lands on better. There’s not much debating that.

Despite being 37 years of age and playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are going through so many issues, Sidney Crosby remains right around being a point-per-player game and one of the finest examples of what a winner looks like. What he adds on the ice and in the locker room is invaluable.

While appearing on the Leafs Nation’s “Leafs Morning Take” podcast, Mike Grinnell said he’s firmly of the belief that adding Sidney Crosby to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ roster all but guarantees a Stanley Cup win.
“You get Sidney Crosby in a trade, you’re winning the cup…”
However, a proposal voted on by Leafs fans, which included 22-yeara-old Matthew Knies going the other way in a package, was firmly shot down.
“I put out an X [poll]… would you include Matthew Knies in a deal to acquire Sidney Crosby? The amount of no’s… Dude, I wanted to quit this show, I wasn’t going to come do this interview today,” said host Nick Alberga
 

Matthew Knies is, unfortunately, still recovering from an injury suffered when he was on the wrong end of a dirty, dangerous hit from Zach Whitecloud of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Knies is a good young power forward who has time to get better over the next few years and become a solid piece in the Maple Leafs’ lineup for the forseeable future. However, we’re talking about a surefire Hall-of-Famer and, as Grinnell pointed out, still a Hart Trophy candidate player in Sidney Crosby.

Trading someone like Matthew Knies to get Sidney Crosby is for sure a massive “win now” move. I’d be willing to bet that it has at least crossed the mind of Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving since the 2024-25 season began.

Would Treliving be willing to part with a big piece of the team’s future for a chance at bringing in Sidney Crosby to win now? Personally, I think he would be crazy not to.

From Pittsburgh Penguins GM and President Kyle Dubas’ perspective, Matthew Knies would be one hell of a building block coming back for a 37-year-old veteran with only 2 or 3 years left in the National Hockey League. Bringing in a player on the upswing and some additional assets in exchange for a generational player in the twilight years of a very decorated NHL career could be a smart pivot.

If the thought of losing Matthew Knies is too much for fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, just imagine Crosby finding Auston Matthews open near the front of the net on repeat.

Crosby has turned some pretty mediocre players into stars. Imagine what he could do with a fellow Hart Trophy winner and a 3-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner. If that doesn’t change your mind, you might be beyond save-able.