The Toronto Maple Leafs have several players that will need new contracts by the end of this season. According to PuckPedia, there are 14 players on the NHL roster that are pending free agents. That includes pending unrestricted free agents, as well as restricted free agents. Matthew Knies is one of those RFA’s who will be looking to get paid in the offseason. However, despite being eligible to sign a new contract immediately, it sounds like Knies and his camp want to hold off negotiations until after the season.
For those wondering..
Status quo on contract talks between Matthew Knies and the Maple Leafs.
I’m told his camp is in no rush to get a deal done.
For my money, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is ironed out after the season.
— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) October 22, 2024
Leafs Have to Wait to Lock Up Knies
Along with Knies, many big names need contracts at the end of the season. That includes Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and Jake McCabe. All those players have been talked about over the last few weeks or so regarding extensions. For Marner and Tavares, chances are those will get done in the new year. Leafs’ management has been high on McCabe and there’s a chance that he will sign sooner than the two aforementioned stars. However, with Knies, they might have to wait the longest.
The suspicion isn’t that Knies won’t sign at the end of the year. Considering that he is a restricted free agent and how well he’s playing, it’d be unlikely for him not to stay. However, it’s not too surprising that Knies and his team are waiting out the season before signing a contract. Given his start to the year, the 22-year-old is making a wise choice. In six games played, Knies has put the puck in the net twice and provided a helper too. He also has the third most shots on the team among forwards with 15 (2.5 shots per game).
In his rookie season last year, he had a solid season. The youngster was moved around the lineup often. In fact, he was featured on every single line for the Maple Leafs last season. He finished seventh in rookie scoring last season, putting up 15 goals and 35 points.
Betting on Himself
With Knies holding out on contract negotiations until later in the season, that means he is betting on himself. It’s a situation where there is a high risk but a high reward for the player. If he continues to play well, chances are he’ll get a nice long-term contract. He’ll likely sign a five-year contract or longer with more than $4M per year. Currently, he’s on pace to score 40 points. However, playing on the top line with Auston Matthews and Marner should bump up that pace as the year goes on. On top of that, Knies has matured and evolved from a rookie to a grown man. He’s been using his 6-foot-3 227-pound frame to his advantage.
Under Craig Berube, Knies has thrived on hunting down defencemen on the forecheck. He’s looked very good playing a fast and physical brand of hockey, and it doesn’t look like he’ll be slowing down. Therefore, it’s a very smart decision for Knies and his team to wait out the extension in terms of looking for maximum dollars.
Main Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
