Maple Leafs Calder Favourite Training with World Class Talent
Matthew Knies may not be the first name thought of when the Calder conversation comes up, but he's certainly in the race.
Calder Trophy for #23?
The young winger, who will likely be tied to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for most of the season, could emerge as a true candidate for the the trophy.
His competition is steep, with Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli both likely entering the league, as well as other names like Logan Stankoven and Devon Levi having their rookie seasons.
Knies may have the upper hand when it comes to training, however, as he has been caught with big names.
Training With the Best
Knies was filmed yesterday training with the same skill coach who made Auston Matthews elite.
Knies' skills coach in Arizona (who has also worked with other Leafs such as Matthews and Lafferty) posted some videos of him yesterday.
He has also grown a very close bond with new Leafs staff member Shane Doan, who was a staple of his childhood growing up in Arizona.
Matthew Knies stopped by Shane Doan's house yesterday and gave him a Maple Leafs sweater with the No. 23 on it.
Knies revealed the great advice Doan gave him:
Knies recalls the best advice he ever received from Doan: "Don't be the most skilled player, be the best player."
With this type of amazing training, could Knies surpass Bedard and Fantilli and win himself the illustrious Calder trophy? Only time will tell.
| POLL |
Do you think Matthew Knies will finish top-five in Calder voting? |
| Yes | 1066 | 77 % |
| No | 319 | 23 % |
| List of polls |
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