Should the Blackhawks trade for Matthew Knies this offseason?

The Chicago Blackhawks are not exactly the biggest team in the NHL; in fact, they're the lightest group in the league. Add that to the average height of the forwards being around six feet, and it makes sense as to why some (mainly me) may be concerned over the longevity of this group long-term. However, the Blackhawks have drafted size in the recent drafts, so the concern should ease pretty soon. The top six is essentially locked up as far as the young guns are concerned, so what should the Blackhawks do about the embarrassment of riches of assets they have accumulated?

Make a move, not in free agency, but for young guns who signed their first long-term deal. The Blackhawks have promising prospects at all positions, both signed and on the way. Clearly, not all of them will make the team, as only 20 total spots are available on a game-day basis. Find the right guys that could be expendable by fledgling playoff teams heading towards a rebuild.

Matthew Knies fits the identity, but should the Blackhawks trade for him?

Matthew Knies is seen as an essential piece for the Toronto Maple Leafs moving forward, but if the team shifts toward a rebuild, he won't be of any help when it needs to tank. The young, up-and-coming teams in the league (Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, to name a few) could inquire about players like Knies, and the Blackhawks may have already inquired about him.

The price for Knies looks to be a young, NHL-ready defenseman, a top prospect, and a first-round pick. This package from the Blackhawks may be difficult to cough up, as the only NHL-ready defenseman the Maple Leafs may even consider is Alex Vlasic. He is a core member; he will lead the blueline for years to come, and I don't see anyone else who can take his spot any time soon. So, if we adjust the price a bit and focus on prospects only, we may be looking at two top prospects and a first-rounder.

The Blackhawks may need to send something like:

F, Frank Nazar, F, Nick Lardis, RHD, Sam Rinzel, first round pick

Maybe Kyle Davidson could convince Brad Treliving to take Wyatt Kaiser instead of Frank Nazar to bolster the slow, old defense core of the Maple Leafs, but this looks like the package the Maple Leafs are asking for Knies. Yes, the Blackhawks have the assets to pull off a move like this, but is it worth it?

I mean, these guys are expected to be big parts of the Blackhawks future. These are three NHL-ready players under 23 years of age. Is the price too much for Knies? Anton Frondell and Roman Kanterov are both on their way over, and Anton Frondell could easily cover the power forward role the Blackhawks desperately need. The Blackhawks also have Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker, who could fill that role. AJ Spellacy seems to be a spark plug and could cause chaos as well.

Don't forget about Jack Pridham, either, who is lighting up the OHL this season, and I doubt the Blackhawks will want to give him up. Add this to Knies maybe being demoted to the third line randomly by Jeff Blashill, and I think I have my opinion here.

No, the Blackhawks should not trade for Knies, given the price the Maple Leafs have set. I think it's just too much for a forward when there are two game-changers on the way that fill those top-six spots. The top six are starting to take off, getting used to Blashill's system, and the real thing to consider right now is how the bottom six are going to look and go from there. If things go as expected, the Blackhawks can wait on Knies as they figure out how their top prospects fare in the NHL.