Maple Leafs Teenager Rapidly Rising Into Menacing Energy Ahead

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a slew of younger gamers whose greatest years are forward of them. Most of them at the moment are family names, together with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

Nonetheless, one up-and-comer remains to be discovering his prime type. And this week, we noticed what that teenager – left winger Matthew Knies – is able to doing.

Knies was a key drive in Toronto’s 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday at Scotiabank Area, posting his second objective and third level of the season. The 22-year-old American took benefit of a collision between two Bolts gamers, grabbed the puck on a breakaway and fired it via the legs of Lightning goalie Jonas Johansson to make it 5-1 Leafs and put the sport out of attain for Tampa Bay.

Then on Tuesday, whereas the Maple Leafs were blown out 6-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Knies scored once more. He took away the puck behind the online, protected the puck as he skated into the low slot after which whipped it round for his third objective of the yr.

However Knies’ affect was felt above and past his targets. He was a bodily drive, a dogged forechecker and a punisher in his personal zone. In sum, Knies was the whole bundle you envision from an NHL energy ahead, and he’s nonetheless simply scratching the floor of what he can do.

Very quickly, the Leafs must reward him when it’s time for a brand new contract.

To that finish, Knies will likely be an RFA on the finish of this season. Whereas the Leafs may have extra wage cap area to play with when a few of their veterans’ contracts are up and the cap ceiling rises, they nonetheless must watch out about handing out long-term contracts. However there ought to be no concern in any way of over-paying Knies.

Whether or not it’s a bridge deal he will get to cowl the subsequent couple of seasons or a long-term funding that offers him at the least $5 million to $6 million per yr, Knies will likely be handsomely paid as he settles into his prime.

Enjoying on a line with Matthews and Marner, Knies doesn’t have to hold the crew on his again. As a substitute, if he makes use of his 6-foot-3 body and continues as a high-impact bodily competitor, Knies would be the man within the corners who digs the puck out for Matthews and Marner and scores targets in shut and on rebounds and secondary scoring possibilities. He’s already displaying he can do precisely that.

Knies nonetheless has numerous time to search out his peak type. However his confidence is rising with each recreation. Whereas he’s obtained 4 factors in seven video games, he ought to develop that scoring tempo as he will get extra expertise.

Because of Leafs coach Craig Berube, Knies is already getting extra possibilities. Thus far this season, Knies is averaging 17:09 of ice time, greater than three minutes extra per recreation than he did final yr (13:41). That’s an enormous bump in alternatives, and we anticipate Knies to take advantage of them.

Related: Ex-NHL Players Debate Whether Leafs’ Ekman-Larsson Deserved Fine For Reverse Hit

Progress isn’t all the time linear, so Knies could discover a profession hurdle right here or there that he doesn’t clear straight away. However the Leafs have to be comfortable along with his development and manufacturing so far.

Knies remains to be studying to deal with the grind of the NHL recreation, however his confidence and tenacity are solely rising. He’s obtained the first-line left winger spot nailed down for the second, and as his offense totals proceed to enhance, he’s going to be a vital part of Toronto’s blueprint for fulfillment.

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