The Toronto Maple Leafs have locked down one of their cornerstones up front. They’ve given Matthew Knies a big-time contract extension. This is a six-year contract with an average cap hit of $7.75 million. This is Knies’ first contract after his entry-level contract expired. His contract does not have any no-movement clauses.
BREAKING: Matthew Knies has agreed to a six-year extension with the Maple Leafs worth $7.75M per year to stay in Toronto.
Matthew Knies Earns Contract Extension
Knies is coming off his second full NHL season with the Maple Leafs. However, he made a big jump in terms of offensive production and his overall ability on the ice from his first full season. Knies played 80 games and scored 15 goals and 35 points in the 2023-24 campaign. He finished seventh in scoring among all rookies that year. This year, he grew into a critical role with the Maple Leafs. Knies became a full-time first-line forward, alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Knies finished the season with 29 goals and 58 points, scoring 23 more points than the previous season.
At the young age of 22, Knies has already taken on a leadership role, on and off the ice. In this past regular season, he averaged 18:31 of ice time. Leafs head coach Craig Berube doubled down on his trust in Knies in the playoffs. He averaged 19:48 in the postseason while scoring five goals and seven points in 13 games. At the end of Toronto’s playoff campaign, Knies tied John Tavares for the second-most goals on the team.
His Fit With the Maple Leafs
Knies has truly excelled under Berube’s coaching this season. He is a straight-line player who thrives in puck battles and forechecking. That’s the way Berube likes his team to play. With this [term]-year contract, Knies will be Toronto’s go-to power forward going forward. With his size and ability, he seems to be a perfect fit with Matthews and Marner.
The Leafs left winger stepped up and earned the respect of his coaches and teammates. However, he’s gained a reputation around the league. At one point this season, he was just one of three players to record 25 goals and 150 hits. Ottawa Senators‘ Brady Tkachuk and Washington Capitals‘ Tom Wilson were the other two at the time.
Main Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
