Matthew Knies

[shaner8989]

What an absolute stud of a player. I’m just floored about how amazing he is. He needs his own thread.

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[Stephen]

He's a young bull. That cycle game with JT to win the Tampa series was just unbelievable for a rookie.

 

[the squared circle]

On the ice for all three overtime goals!

 

[Vinh]

He kept the play alive twice on the game-winning sequence. Great stick work along the wall. With a bit more strength, he'll be an absolute force.

 

[HomelessPepper]

Where the people who said he won't make an impact right away? 3 OT's, 3 wins with Knies on the ice!

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

He's got another level to reach for sure, he was just learning as he goes against the (former) best team in the east as he worked to get the Leafs over a 19 year hump. He's for real

 

[HellasLEAF]

BEAST.

CORE PLAYER.

 

[Menzinger]

An amazing beauty of a player. Excelling wildest expectations

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Straight up beast.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

It’s been nearly 20 years since we had a true power forward on this team. Perfect timing for him to join us.

 

[Community]

Crazy year for Knies!

There's some rookie tendencies in his play, but the pros FAR outweigh the cons.

To come in and play the way he has against Tampa is beyond impressive.

 

[KPower]

I Thought he was overrated.

I was wrong, this kid is going to be a 30 goal scorer.

 

[dubey]

Bunting suspension was one of the best thing to happen to this team in this series lol

Hard to believe he's still under 10 pro games

 

[Pi]

We have yet to see his shot but the rest of his game is far ahead of his age.

He's going to be great and we'll definitely need his ELC.

 

[Raym11]

he made a lot of mistakes in the series but he was also crucial and made great plays. shows his mentality that he bounces back after everything

I'm also fine with guys like that making mistakes/blunders when you know they will just continue to play the way they always do. Couple years down the line and he'll be refined.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Kid could have caved after turning the puck over on that tying goal.

Instead he kept battling and didn't lose another puck battle, which set up the winner. f***ing right, that's how you develop a winner.

 

[Apotheosis]

Staple him to Marner and Matthews off wing. That line is going to put up insane numbers next year.

 

[SImpelton]

For now he's an excellent supporting player. He's got upside beyond that for future seasons, but his puck possession abilities are already impressive and he has the ability to anticipate where the puck is going and get his stick there. That speaks well of his potential as a future goal scorer. He's also way better than such a wet behind the ears kid should be defensively. He could stick in the NHL just for his defense and cycling and be a staple on someone's third line even if he never develops a scoring touch.

And there's no way this kid doesn't turn the skillset he has into at least a few 50 point seasons. That's the floor, the ceiling is higher.

He reminds me a little bit of a young Patrice Bergeron if I'm being honest. A bit too unseasoned to be a huge scoring threat -- yet. The game will eventually slow down for him and then we'll really see what he's capable of. But even at this early date he's puck hungry and reading the play extremely well. Once his scoring catches up with the rest of his game he's going to be a monster.

Put it this way -- he just started skating at NHL speeds and he's already good enough to be a third line checking winger and should probably play on the second PK unit if he isn't already. Put him in a forechecking and possession role and he's ready right now to contribute as a pro skater. That's astonishing for the limited experience he has. Once he gets his timing down at this level, the sky's the limit.

 

[TorontoTrades]

I'm excited for his future. Looks like he'll fit right in on the top 6 for cheap the next couple years.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

He's a beauty, clean up the board work and he's gonna dominate.
Let's hold off on that 1st goal for the 2nd round.

 

[pcruz]

I was skeptical of his impact before the playoffs.

He's been way above my expectations to be honest.

I'm not ready to call him a core player, but I can definitely see him flanking Matthews and Marner next season after a full training camp and pre-season with this team.

His puck protection is fantastic for a player who has played more playoff games than regular season NHL games.

There's lots to teach him, for damn sure, but the raw skillset is there for all to see.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[IPS]

Destiny is the only explanation.

 

[LeafSteel]

I said from the beginning put him with Tavares and watch them drive possession and cycle the puck.

This kid does not play like a kid who got thrust into a new team, and city, and a new tempo hours after a crushing disappointment.

Love that Dubas took him, and that he held on to him when everyone (media meatheads) but the Pope were demanding that Dubas include him in every single trade for has been UFA's "to go all in".

Welcome to Toronto Matt!

 

[garce]

What an impressive start to a career, using size skating and smarts to make plays and dominate along the boards.
Just wait til he starts scoring, could be next week