Maple Leafs Knies reveals what kind of NHL player he wants to become

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Julien Trekker
October 1, 2023 (9:55)

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Back in 2021, the Maple Leafs drafted Matthew Knies with the 57th overall pick.

Then, nobody knew that he would be this good.

In the pre-season games, Knies was impressive. He showed that he deserves a spot in the Leafs lineup for the season. Not only that, with how he performed, his name should be included in discussions about the Leafs' best players: Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, and Knies.

Here's the spectacular goal he scored last night:

Now that he's about to start his rookie season in the NHL, fans are eager to see what he'll bring on the ice in a full 82-game season. The player talked about that in a recent interview.

Knies Opens Up on What Kind of Player He Wants to Become

Everyone is realizing it: Knies will become a top player in the NHL. Many people are trying to predict what's to come for the Leafs' rookie, but Knies already knows what he wants to achieve.

"I want to play everywhere. I want to be a contributor in all parts of the game. That's what hockey demands: a player that can play in all three zones & in every situation. I want to be that type of player."

Keefe used him in that sense yesterday. Even if the Leafs already have a few forwards who are responsible defensively, you can never have too many of them.

It's with those types of players that you win a Stanley Cup.

As seen on Daily Hockey Dose - Knies Opens Up About the Kind of Player He Aims to Be for the Leafs