Matthew Knies has been one of the most fascinating players on the Toronto Maple Leafs since he emerged during the 2022-23 playoffs, just weeks removed from playing his final collegiate game for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Due to his unique combination of size, speed, tenacity, his rapid ascent from second-round pick to genuine NHL forward, and the fact that he’s kickstarting the next phase of Toronto’s contention timeline, Knies has always been compelling to evaluate.
It’s been clear since his first playoff series that Knies would be an essential part of the team’s core, but it hasn’t always been easy. Knies was primarily paired with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and the unit produced stellar results — Matthews’ 69-goal campaign doesn’t happen without a little bit of help from his friends. Knies-Matthews-Marner played 406:04 at 5-on-5 last season through 66 games, crushing opponents with a plus-12 goal differential (24-12) and a 57.8 percent share of the expected goals via Natural Stat Trick. They were one of the best lines in the NHL last year, and it’s important to remember that Knies got the second look after Tyler Bertuzzi failed to develop real chemistry with Matthews and Marner at the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign.
There’s an attendant expectation to produce tremendous offence when paired with two of the NHL’s premier forwards, and Knies needed to improve upon a 15-goal, 35-point showing, despite producing decent stellar line numbers, while showing glimpses of stardom at just 21 years old.
Matthew Knies is putting it all together. Five goals in 10 games, constantly drawing penalties and working his way into high-danger areas. Exactly the type of production you want to see from someone on the Matthews-Marner line.
— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) October 29, 2024
Knies has broken out during his age-22 season, and through the opening 11 games of the Maple Leafs’ season, he’s inarguably been one of the team’s best players. He was the best player during Toronto’s three-game losing streak in mid-October and received the lone passing grade during a 6-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the worst regular season performances of the Matthews era. Knies has recorded six goals and seven points through 11 games, all six of his goals coming at even strength, and he looks the part of the modern power forward. Since his NHL debut, Knies has gained nearly 20 pounds at 6-foot-3, 227 pounds; he’s running over opponents in the open ice, while closing down on defenders with menace on the forecheck, delivering 25 hits.
Matthew Knies was credited with six hits tonight and a few of them looked pretty heavy. He’s no fun to play against.
— Nick Richard (@_NickRichard) November 1, 2024
That’s just great hockey by the @MapleLeafs‘ first line 🍁
Matthew Knies now has five goals in his last six games!#NHLStats: https://t.co/oNc1gzL6q0 pic.twitter.com/hGRwUZEv6j
— NHL (@NHL) October 31, 2024
It’s the combination of high-end scoring ability and physicality that’s allowing Knies to round into a more complete player during the start of this season. He’s flat-out bullying opponents to get to the slot, and he’s improved at drifting off Auston Matthews to clean up chances in the slot and high-danger areas. Knies ranks ninth in the NHL in individual expected goals at 5-on-5, a byproduct of his ability to bowl over defenders and get to the net whenever he wants.
“He can skate extremely well and is really powerful,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Knies via TSN’s Mark Masters. “He plays north. He is doing a good job of getting to the net. He lets them (Matthews and Marner) do their thing, and he is around the net.”
Here’s an example from the October 26 contest against the Boston Bruins, where Knies capitalizes on some tremendous individual work from Matthews, where Toronto’s captain takes on four defenders before dropping the puck for Knies to slam home.
MATTHEW KNIES 🚨
Matthews takes it to the net and Knies buries it pic.twitter.com/zLPldhyHy8
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 27, 2024
Knies is working well in short areas overall and is looking to clean up rebounds with greater frequency. He benefits from the gravity effect that Matthews commands — the working idea that he can use the space created by defences watching Matthews’ every move — and is in better position to scoop up rebounds for easy offence.
“He’s obviously a beast,” Marner said of Knies on October 16, prior to the Maple Leafs’ 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. “He’s a big fella. I think he’s really done an unbelievable job in that role that he’s been put in. I don’t think it’s easy for a guy to come out of college. He’s got those unbelievable skills to do 1-on-1 things. Obviously, sometimes playing with Auston and I, it’s a lot of times when we want the puck in our hands to try to make plays. He’s done an unreal job of just being around the net, being down low, winning his 1-on-1 battles, getting pucks back for us and getting right back to the net. When he’s needed to, he makes those plays.”
Knies has been inventive, independent of Matthews and Marner as well. He’s trying out more audacious plays and almost scored two of the best goals of October. Here’s this clip of an inside-outside fake spin-o-rama which he tried against the Winnipeg Jets during what was a terrific performance overall.
holy Matthew Knies pic.twitter.com/efBrrJorl3
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 29, 2024
Knies is also attempting this between-the-legs move near the net front, especially when he doesn’t have time to get the puck onto his forehand in short areas, as displayed against the Seattle Kraken on Halloween. It’s truly scary hours when trying to defend the Maple Leafs’ emerging star winger at his best.
Knies tried to put the puck between his legs pic.twitter.com/WPTYHQpNWr
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 31, 2024
And it’s this play from Knies that I can’t get out of my head: Knies almost pulls off an incredible move on Igor Shesterkin, attempting an intrepid toe-drag around the New York Rangers’ superstar goalie — who looked every bit the part — before getting pushed legally by Rangers defenceman Braden Schneider at the last second. My notebook for this play is just a series of exclamation marks and expletives, and really, Knies has been a true natural power forward while playing with real entertainment value.
Matthew Knies nearly toe-dragged the hell out of Shesterkin pic.twitter.com/dmsNGTve2N
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 20, 2024
Toronto’s dormant power play has been one of the stories of the season thus far, but Knies has been added to the top group, where his physicality, screening ability, and ability to create chances in tight areas will make him an asset in the net-front role. He’s becoming a complete player, and aided by two-Selke finalist-calibre defensive players on his own line, Knies has become far more than a talented puck-retrieval specialist — he is putting it all together. He’s genuinely one of the breakout stars in the NHL this season, and his continued ascension elevates the ceiling of the Maple Leafs overall.
Any concerns about Knies’ production alongside Matthews and Marner have been put to rest, and he’s eligible for a contract extension. Knies will be worth every penny as a bridge between the present and the future of the Maple Leafs.
All stats current prior to Friday’s games
