Matthew Knies May Face Suspension for Questionable Hit on New Jersey Devils Defenseman
Matthew Knies' hit during Tuesday's game against New Jersey may have some potential consequences coming his way courtesy of the NHL.
Not known for being a malicious or dirty player, frustrations must have boiled over for the young power forward as Toronto was being outplayed by New Jersey, and it may end up costing Knies.
As Devils defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic was attempting to corral the puck, Knies went in for a hit and connected as Kovacevic turned his body to face the boards and ended up getting smoked by the Leafs power forward leading to Knies getting a penalty.
The NHL's Problem With The Maple Leafs
However, he may need to answer to Player Safety on Wednesday, and given the potential for Maple Leafs players to be punished a bit more, there is a chance Knies might find himself with a fine, or worse.
The hit in and of itself was not a cheap shot to the head, and Kovacevic turned his body at the right moment as Knies was coming in, a horrible combination. Thankfully the Devils defenseman wasn't hurt and continued on in the eventual 2-1 Leafs OT victory.
The issue is that the league often finds themselves with these types of hits on a nightly basis, and perhaps they need to re-adjust the rules to punish players more in game, while also determining if further punishment is needed.
It's a good sign that Kovacevic wasn't injured, not only for the player himself but for Knies, who can only hope that his opponent's lack of injury saves him further punishment.
It's not the first time that Toronto has found themselves at the mercy of the league, as they've had Ryan Reaves suspended for a polarizing hit on Darnell Nurse.
Then they've had numerous calls turned over whether they be goals, or penalties for the opposition. Meanwhile, Toronto's reviews often leave them with extra discipline at the end of the night.
Hopefully for Knies and the Maple Leafs, he won't face the full force of the NHL's disciplinary committee, as he can't afford another setback after just getting back on the ice.
This season, Knies has built upon his breakout year in 2023, as he has 10 goals and 16 points, on pace to smash his career highs.
