Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies responds after Montreal Canadiens trade rumor during difficult NHL season

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been put under growing pressure in recent weeks as the club seeks to come out of a challenging spell in performances. It was over that period that forward Matthew Knies was suddenly in the NHL trade rumors after it was reported that the Montreal Canadiens were interested in getting the young winger.Knies has been among the players of Toronto who have been emerging this season, giving the team offense and physical presence in the line. The 23-year-old has still been concentrating on his role with the Maple Leafs despite this speculation as the team tries to recuperate in the National Hockey League standings.Matthew Knies commented on the state of affairs a little when questioned about the trade speculation. The Maple Leafs forward said that he has not used much time fretting over the reports and that trade rumorsare the norm when playing in a high-profile market.Knies cites that the players in Toronto frequently hear themselves being mentioned in rumors due to the anticipation of the franchise. He did admit that the speculation somewhat surprised him, but insisted that he is still committed to getting the Maple Leafs to improve further on the rest of the season.Statistically, Knies has generated good results in Toronto. The winger has accumulated over 50 points this season, comprising 16 goals and 35 assists in60 plus games. One of the strengths of the Maple Leafs, despite the fact that the team has been performing poorly, is its offensive production.Meanwhile, the forward has been experiencing a minor lower-body problem, and this has provided an additional point of discussion for his recent performance. Even with such fears, the management of Toronto is not doubtful about the long-term potential of Knies.It was reported that the general manager, Brad Treliving, turned down the interest of the Montreal Canadiens, which supported the notion that the company continues to use the young forward as one of its staples. Although trade rumours emerge rather fast in the NHL, the position taken by the Toronto organization makes it apparent that the winger is a significant part of its future. Despite trade rumors and injury concerns, Matthew Knies remains a key long-term piece for Toronto.