Yesterday David Pagnotta went on a podcast, and then in the way of things, multiple people repeated bits of what he said and it got passed around as new information. It sort of is. There was a lot of talk about this at the trade deadline, but it involves a trade that never happened for Matt Knies to the Canadiens.

In the past, no one has confirmed that this was more than a discussion. Pagnotta says it was a done deal the Brad Treliving couldn't get filed in time.

Trade talk getting louder, Knies almost a Hab — The Fourth Period
The Montreal Canadiens & Toronto Maple Leafs almost completed a trade involving Matthew Knies, reports David Pagnotta.
The Fourth PeriodRumours

Read the details for yourself. He wisely wrote it up for his own website, rather than letting everyone else rip it for free off the podcast.

In that article he also says that the Leafs did interview Dallas Eakins, who we all saw scouting a Marlies game. He also asserts that the Oilers offered Darnell Nurse to the Leafs at the deadline, and the wording there is interesting because it leaves unsaid what the response was.

My personal rule is that if the trade didn't happen, it didn't happen. But it is clear the Leafs at that time were open to trading Knies. Would they be now? Who knows. Depends, as always, on the return.

Sources: Dylan Larkin requests trade from Detroit
Elliotte Friedman reports that centre Dylan Larkin, after 11 years with the Detroit Red Wings and just one playoff appearance, has requested a trade from the team.
Sportsnet.caElliotte Friedman

This is sourced reporting, but no details are available on where this stands since no one directly involved will talk about it.

No, actually, the Leafs can't trade for Larkin because they don't have the picks for it.

Important size comparison for those who care so much about this:

Leach talks No. 1 pick, planning for Draft with Maple Leafs on ‘NHL Draft Class’ podcast | NHL.com
Director of amateur scouting discusses Toronto having top choice for 1st time since 2016
NHL logoNHLMedia
McKenna reveals Leafs GM Chayka visited his home in Whitehorse
As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to weigh their options with the No. 1 pick in this month’s draft, top prospect Gavin McKenna revealed general manager John Chayka visited him in his hometown in the Yukon.
TSNTSN.ca Staff
Analyzing Morgan Rielly’s play: Can he bounce back in a new system?
Morgan Rielly’s points and underlying numbers have been in decline for a couple seasons and now he finds himself as an off-season trade candidate. But could he bounce back in a system different than former coach Craig Berube’s? Adam Vingan takes a look at Rielly’s impact.
Sportsnet.caAdam Vingan

And in actual NHL news, Vegas seemed like the proverbial wagon until Carolina tied it up...

...in the third period (beware the weirdness in small runs of games, lest you think the cloud really is a bunny)

The game ended in OT on a power-play goal (really in OT even) and Carolina evens the series. Time to rewrite all the narratives.

In Marlies news, they are back at it tonight tied at two-all, as are Colorado and Chicago in the western final.

From The Branches