We finally know what Matthew Knies has been dealing with
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The injury issue involving Leafs forward Matthew Knies has finally been revealed and he's hopeful that things will get resolved once the Olympic break is over.
Matthew Knies has revealed new details about his mystery illness that had risked keeping the 23-year-old out of the Leafs lineup, but appears to be continuing to linger.
Knies has been struggling as of late after a hot start, having just 11 points in 18 games in 2026 for Toronto, eight of them having come in multi-point games, including in the Leafs 5-2 win Monday against the Edmonton Oilers in which Knies netted a goal and an assist.
Those struggles have been linked to a nagging injury and in an interview with The Athletic's Leafs reporter Joshua Kloke, Knies revealed the details of those injury troubles which were due to knee issues:
It’s frustrating. I think a lot of the things that allow me to be a better player and to dominate is my physical attributes, and I just don’t think I have that to one hundred percent right now.
That’s what makes it frustrating: I can’t really do what I want do. It sucks when you don’t feel like yourself.
That’s what makes it frustrating: I can’t really do what I want do. It sucks when you don’t feel like yourself.
But Knies had hopes that this two-week break could give him the recovery time needed to come back with a bang:
This break will be very beneficial for me because there’s not a lot of time in between games to let it heal up and take care of it.
Knies told The Athletic that he had been dealing with lingering knee issues that have been a prolonged nuisance, stemming from the same knee injury he suffered back in November 2025.
Matthew Knies hoping to play through injury despite scoring slump
Matthew Knies said that his struggles as of recent have been difficult for him, that he's unable to play to the best of his abilities and it's been clear he hasn't had the same offensive output as he did earlier this season.
Knies also emphasized that he wants to continue playing, but understands the challenge that has emerged, admitting that he isn't feeling like his top self, but that he can play through it.
Knies also noted the upcoming Olympic break as something that will give him rest and a chance to recoup without the burden of continuous play.
Despite his injury woes, Knies has still managed to score 14 goals along with 32 assists in 54 games for 46 points, although not the leap forward either Knies, nor the Leafs, would have hoped be the result.
After play resumes, the hope will turn to Knies being able to rebound and find the ability to heal, otherwise the rest of the season brings forth the worry of how much Knies can bring to the label without being at 100% percent.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 4|1010 ANSWERS We finally know what Matthew Knies has been dealing with Will Matthew Knies return to his peak self once the NHL resumes? | ||
| Yes | 829 | 82.1 % |
| No | 181 | 17.9 % |
| List of polls | ||