Leafs Matthew Knies next contract projection revealed
Matthew Knies has emerged as a genuine piece of the Maple Leafs future, and now his potential extension numbers have been revealed.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and GM Brad Treliving have had so much to think about and make decisions on as of late, and now, they've got another gigantic decision on their hands. After Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings was given a five-year deal that comes in at $6.25M AAV, all eyes in Toronto have turned to Matthew Knies, who could command a similar deal.
However, Knies has less experience in the NHL, and that's left many wondering if the Leafs should be aggressive in making a deal happen to avoid a breakout year for Knies that could push the cost on his deal up to that $6.25M AAV mark.
Now, one Maple Leafs reporter has predicted a potential deal for Knies, and it's safe to say that Toronto should look to get it done sooner, rather than later.
According to the prediction, a Knies deal, if signed as soon as possible should come in at 5-7 years, with a cap hit of $4.5-5.5M per season, given that Knies hasn't yet produced at the NHL level like Byfield.
Maple Leafs fans have been having the same thoughts on social media as well;
Byfield - 55 pts in 80 games
Knies - 35 pts in 80 games
They're the same age. Byfield is a franchise-type young centre while Knies likely tops out as a 60-70 point winger.
It's unclear if either side is in a rush to make a deal happen, because if Knies bets on himself it could pay off big time, but he could also opt for the security of a long-term deal.
Keep your eyes on this story as it would certainly benefit the Maple Leafs as they look to pursue their first Stanley Cup since 1967.
Source: Maple Leafs Daily
A realistic preview of what Matthew Knies' contract could look like in Toronto
| POLL | ||
Should the Maple Leafs extend Matthew Knies before the 2024/25 season begins? | ||
| Yes | 353 | 86.1 % |
| No | 57 | 13.9 % |
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