Matthew Knies wasn't the only blockbuster the Canadiens had in the chamber

Kent Hughes was working the phones aggressively right up to Friday's trade deadline. The primary target was the Toronto Maple Leafs, an incredibly rare trading partner.

David Pagnotta dropped the initial intel about a mystery player. The noise out of the front office confirms a massive, multi-player package deal was actively on the table. This could have been one of the biggest trades in the history of the Canadiens, which is saying a lot.

Montreal was pushing hard for Knies. The young power forward already has 51 points through 61 games this season and is rarely held scoreless on consecutive nights.

Injecting that level of consistent offensive output onto the top line next to Nick Suzuki completely alters the ceiling of this entire franchise.

Toronto locked the winger up to a hefty six-year extension worth $7.75 million annually last summer. Moving a contract of that magnitude inside the Atlantic Division is practically unheard of.

But the Maple Leafs are facing intense market pressure. Brad Treliving is desperate to shake up a stagnant locker room before the puck drop on the postseason.

This rumored blockbuster trade involved another highly significant name coming back to Montreal to balance the books.

Industry insiders strongly suggest veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was the second major component of the proposed swap.

Adding a 34-year-old blueliner who consistently eats over 20 minutes of ice time prevents the defense from posting a -3 rating on tough road trips.

A move like that allows the coaching staff to confidently roll three balanced pairings, ensuring solid execution during breakouts.

Beyond the pure scoring numbers, Knies brings a heavy, punishing physical presence to every single shift. He has racked up 122 hits on the year.

Over his NHL career, the big forward consistently proves he can dominate the gritty areas of the ice where the toughest battles are fought.

The Canadiens boast one of the absolute deepest prospect pools in the league right now. That gives them the exact ammunition required to execute a massive swing.

This deal ultimately fell through at the buzzer. Expect Hughes to aggressively revisit this exact transaction the second the summer offseason officially opens.

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