With free agency around the corner, there is much speculation in Canadian markets about potential trades of big-name players, including Connor Hellebuyck, Matthew Knies, Morgan Rielly and Darnell Nurse. TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston has the latest on where talks have progressed.
Gino Reda: With insider Chris Johnson to talk about the top 10 on our Trade Bait list that was just released on TSN.ca. CJ, let’s start with the biggest name, Connor Hellebuyck. From the Hart and Vezina winner in 2025 to No.10 on our trade bait board.
Chris Johnston: Absolutely. And that’s just due to the fact that teams are calling the Winnipeg Jets and seeing what it’s going to take to get Connor Hellebuyck out of Winnipeg. And that possibility right now is more real now than it’s ever been at a prior stage of his career, just in terms of him potentially moving.
And while it’s not a certainty that Connor Hellebuyck is traded, I think it’s no secret. We saw his end-of-season availability in Winnipeg, that this was a very trying year for both him and the team. That left some questions in his mind about which direction the organization was heading. And this may be a point in time where the Jets can turn a three-time Vezina winner into a couple pieces that can help their team as they look to move forward.
So, at this stage, it’s all about conversations that are being had, as opposed to any firm decisions being made. But yes, he makes this list because of his name, his resume, and the fact that it is a bit of a surprise, I suppose, that we’re here talking at least about the possibility that Hellebuyck has moved this off-season.
Reda: Matthew Knies makes our list as well. John Chayka has been pretty active already. Could the next big move be trading a core piece that’s locked up long term to a good number, CJ?
Johnston: If the Leafs move Knies, they’re going to get back a pretty significant package. That much we can be sure. They started shopping him, in fact, under Brad Treliving at the March trade deadline. At that point in time, the idea was maybe it was a possibility to restock the cupboards in Toronto. And they went down the road with three or four teams before that deadline, ultimately didn’t move Knies.
But even after the change in management, the Leafs are at least keeping their ears open to the possibility that Matthew Knies could bring them back multiple pieces that can help as they look to sort of refresh and retool moving forward. And so, the reason you’re hearing this player’s name, I think predominantly, obviously, there’s a ton of interest in him. He’s young. He doesn’t have any trade protection in his contract. So he can be dealt to any of the other 31 teams, which is key because the Leafs can conduct an auction.
And I would say right now what they’re doing is they’re auctioning. They’re gauging the market. They’re listening to what the kind of offers they’re going to get. And they’re going to ultimately have to make a decision. Is it worth keeping Knies, who they very much like as a player, or is it perhaps a better time to trade them and turn them into multiple parts coming back?
Reda: Two Canadian team d-men in need of a change of scenery also make the list. What’s the latest on Morgan Rielly and Darnell Nurse?
Johnston: Nurse, as we know, requested a trade from the Edmonton Oilers. I think he had the writing on the wall there that perhaps he wasn’t wanted at this point in time. And at this stage, it sounds like that’s sort of developing slowly. But I still believe that ultimately they’re going to be able to work together to find some kind of resolution in Nurse’s case. He’s been judged pretty harshly, I think, because of his cap hit in Edmonton and after a long road there, he just feels that it’s time for a fresh start.
As for Rielly, I do believe there’s been at least a little bit of progress towards finding a potential landing spot for him. The Leafs and his agent, J.P. Barry, have been working on this file and, you know, ultimately looking for a place for Morgan to start fresh.
And it’s funny, two parallels, really. Guys who were drafted by these teams have spent more than a decade in those jerseys. And, you know, at a point of transition, it looks as though both will be finding new homes at some point this summer.
Reda: You can see lots more on our trade bait list on our YouTube channel and at TSN.ca.
