Kyle Dubas Could Deliver Crushing Blow to Maple Leafs via Offer Sheet

The Pittsburgh Penguins have now missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the last 3 years running, marking the longest drought in the NHL career of captain and future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby.

While Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has already made a major change in leadership by replacing coach Mike Sullivan with former New York Rangers assistant Dan Muse, he has the chance to strike a blow to his former team.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly having difficulties in contract negotiations with pending RFA forward Matthew Knies, who has emerged as one of their top players.

Via Leafs Morning Take host Nick Alberga, the Leafs and Knies' representation are "far apart" in contract negotiations.

Knies is coming off his 3-year entry level contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $925,000 after playing at the University of Minnesota.

This year, he had 58 points (29G, 29A) in 78 games.

As a pending RFA, Knies is eligible to be given an offer sheet from other teams.

Dubas is working to try and get the most out of the remaining years that franchise icons Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang have left in their careers, and an addition of Knies would give them a key, young piece that could be part of their forward core for years.