Matthew Knies showcased last season he’s going to be a force for the Toronto Maple Leafs for many years to come. Heading into 2024-25 under new head coach Craig Berube, Knies should be getting the first look at playing left wing on the top line alongside Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews.
Berube will be tasked with trying to balance out his lineup and it will interesting to see how exactly everything shapes up at training camp and throughout the preseason. It will also be interesting to see how open Berube is to making in-game adjustments. The Maple Leafs have been used to Sheldon Keefe using a blender every other period.
While there could be moments for change and some minor tweaks along the way, to me, it’s a no brainer to put Knies with Marner and Matthews, at least to start next season. The 21-year-old enjoyed a fine rookie campaign and turned heads around the league during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Knies got stronger as the year went on and throughout the season, his speed, skill and size was on full display.
Knies’ chemistry alongside the team’s top players continues to evolve, and more specifically with Matthews. The two have once again spent some time during the summer months training together in Arizona. They both play similar styles and their relationship on and off the ice can resonate into results throughout the season. With Marner rounding out the trio, each player brings a slew of strengths to the line and combined, they have all the tools to be one of the best lines in hockey.
Not only can this trio be dominant offensively, all three are strong defensive forwards and can impact the game on both sides of the puck. Both Marner and Matthews have received Selke trophy votes in the past, as the league’s best defensive forward, which is something Knies can strive for as he develops his game. From takeaways, to getting sticks in passing lanes, to blocking shots, or winning battles along the wall, Matthews, Marner and Knies are as fun to watch without the puck, as they are when it’s on their stick.
Offensively, Knies can be the work horse, forechecking and being hard on pucks and retrieve as many as possible, meanwhile all he has to do is get Marner the puck and he’ll be able to find Matthews in his sweet spots throughout the offensive zone. These three can make it look easy at times and Berube should give them some run way to start next season.
Trio led the Maple Leafs in minutes together
Knies is gearing up for his second training camp with the Maple Leafs. He’s coming off a 15-goal, 35-point season and even though he didn’t start the season on the top line, he played the majority of last season with Marner and Matthews. Their 404 minutes together as a line was the most on the team in 2023-24.
Tyler Bertuzzi started last season on the top line with Matthews and Marner, it was an experiment that frankly didn’t work. Keefe gave Bertuzzi a long leash and was hopeful he’d eventually find the back of the net on a consistent basis, however, that wasn’t the case at all. Bertuzzi, at one point, recorded just two goals in a 33-game stretch. He didn’t have good chemistry early on with Matthews because he was trying too much to defer and not play his own game and create chances for himself. He was trying to get Matthews the puck too much and was not using his strengths to his advantage. Bertuzzi got better as the year went on and was great in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but he was very inconsistent the first four months of the season.
Knies is the best option available
Heading into 2023-24, Knies is leaps and bounds a better option than any other left winger Berube has at his disposal. There’s no reason Bobby McMann, Easton Cowan, Pontus Holmberg, Alex Nylander, or the disgruntled Nick Robertson should be playing ahead of Knies on the team’s depth chart. He brings much more to the table with his 200-foot game and at just 21 years old, has a much higher ceiling.
Berube also needs to consider adding Knies to the team’s top power-play unit. All 15 of his 2023-24 goals were scored at even strength, and he averaged just 37 seconds per game playing on the power play. With his 6-foot-3 frame, new power play coach Marc Savard should ensure Knies is planted in front of the net and let the young man go to work. In my opinion, Matthews, Marner, William Nylander, Knies and Oliver Ekman-Larsson should round out the regular five Berube throws over on the top unit.
The 2024-25 season has a chance to be a massive year for Knies. It will be his second full season in the league and he showed with his strong performance during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s no concerns about his ability to sustain his strong play throughout an entire NHL season. Knies’ all-around game compliments Marner and Matthews the best of any Leafs’ left winger and Berube should be writing these three in permanent marker as the team’s first line.
