Matthew Knies Compared to 50-Goal Scorer: His Upside is Higher Than Expected
Matthew Knies has emerged as a future superstar for the Maple Leafs, and his comparison to an elite forward should have Brad Treliving rushing to re-sign him as soon as possible.
With his two-point performance against the Bruins on Tuesday, Matthew Knies has seven goals and two assists this season. He took more initiative with superstar Auston Matthews currently out with an upper-body injury. He was a huge factor in Toronto's powerplay being so successful, and he's not slowing down anytime soon.
So with his ascension comes an issue. Knies is currently in the last year of his ELC and he's an RFA after this season. Toronto can't risk losing him to an offer sheet, and they need to sign him long-term, and quickly. He's proven he's not only a key contributor but has drawn comparisons to former 50-goal scorer Chris Kreider.
Chris Kreider
Krieder is a bit bigger than Knies however they are both massive bodies that can move like lightning. Both players came in from college and made an impact, almost a decade apart. Krieder's first season saw him score 17 goals, then balloon to 21 as he broke out in year two. Two years later he's at 28 goals.
From 2021-2023 Krieder had 127 goals while proving to be one of the league's best if not the best power forward. If Knies can follow the same trajectory, it's going to be a nightmare having two 50-goal scorers on the same line with Knies and Matthews. Knies isn't going to suddenly fall off a cliff, and he's only going to get better with more reps and more opportunities.
Matthew Knies' Next Deal
Knies' propensity for sitting in front of the net is reminiscent of former Detroit Red Wings winger Tomas Holmstrom. Known for parking himself in front of goalies to provide screens and tips, he made a legendary career for himself doing one thing to perfection.
If Knies can utilize his body like Holmstrom, and be a brick wall in front of the goalie, he and Toronto are going to get a lot more goals, especially on the powerplay.
So Brad Treliving must jump on re-signing Knies ASAP. He may come at a cost that Toronto is a bit hesitant to pay given his fairly small sample size, but you cannot argue with the results as well as the eye test. Forget a bridge deal, Knies is the future.
While it may not be ideal, Toronto should aim at an 8-year deal worth $5.5M per year. He may ask for more, but Toronto needs to at least field something to show them they mean business.
That's $44M which is a small price to pay for a future superstar. They do have a lot of money off the books, and truthfully Knies has more of a place on the team than Mitch Marner, and it'll be cheaper in the long run too.
So get on it Brad Treliving.
