10 Apr 2023 15:20:21
The Leafs signed Matthew Knies as rumoured. Many will be excited. I say pump the brakes a bit here. It isn't like the Leafs are adding Bedard or like how Tampa got to activate Kucherov for the playoffs. He is a 20 year old that had a solid NCAA season. The size and skating ability is intriguing, but now what? Who does he displace in the lineup? Or he is more of a depth piece as needed.

We all know Knies is a big, strong winger that will go to the dirty areas and as a 20 year old, put up just over a point per game in the NCAA. Sounds great. Although 18 year old Adam Fantilli had almost 2 points per games. Knies was also 3rd on his team in soring behind two freshman and did not have a strong "playoffs" points wise. He only had 1 goal.

It is one thing to play in the NCAA, it is another to play a couple regular season games in the NHL and then be a factor in the playoffs. It doesn't happen often. It is more likely to go the other way where they make mistakes that a team can't afford to have happen.

There is no advantage to putting Knies in as a 4th line player. The Leafs 4th line of Kampf, Lafferty and Aston-Reese looks solid together. He will need top 9 minutes and linemates to be effective.

If O'Reilly is in the top 6, I can't see him taking a spot there. Even if O'Reilly is the 3C, who does Knies replace?

Likely it has to be one of Acciari, Jarnkrok, Bunting or Kerfoot out of the lineup. Keefe and Dubas seem to love Kerfoot, so he is doubtful to be sitting in the press box. Is the unproven Knies a better choice than one of Jarnkrok, Bunting or Acciari?

Yes, the Leafs could put Knies n the top 9 and move out one of Lafferty or Aston-Reese, but one could argue that that line has been a very good shutdown line while producing as well. Why meddle with something that clearly is not broken at the moment.

What about the others mentioned?

Acciari brings an element the Leafs lack. A physical, defensively responsible, hard nosed player that is a very good shut-down centre if needed and can play the wing. A playoff style player.

Jarnkrok is speedy, good on the forecheck, defensively responsible and has efficient scoring ability. He has shown the ability to play in the top 6 if needed.

Bunting is very familiar with the other top 6 players. Can score, is a pest and solid forechecker while playing pretty solid defensively. He plays with passion, too much sometimes, but drive is not an issue.

Knies would have to be quite special to take anyone's spot. Add to that all of the roster changes the Leafs made around the deadline and how Keefe and Dubas wanted to try all the different combos, do the Leafs really need to try and fit in another piece last minute when chemistry is already in question.

Personally, although I hope he is a beast that the Leafs feel they have no choice to play, I think he will be depth unless he can actually impress the Leafs brass so much in his short regular season stint that he manages to steal a spot for game 1 of the playoffs.


1.) 10 Apr 2023
10 Apr 2023 18:57:04
Agreed RLF. We all hope that Knies comes out and impresses so much that he steals a spot on the playoff roster. But realistically, he's our 13th forward and will probably play only if someone gets injured.


2.) 10 Apr 2023
10 Apr 2023 22:21:41
Agreed completely.

Just like Lafferty, media and fans are hyping Knies to be Mathew Tkatchuk. It isn't realistic nor will it (probably) happen.

He wasn't good on college playoffs, wasn't good in international play and we all expect him to score 5 goals a game.


3.) 11 Apr 2023
11 Apr 2023 03:03:37
If Knies does play, I am hoping it will be on a 3rd line of;
Knies - O’Reilly - Jarnkrok
Leave Aston-Reese - Kampf - Lafferty together as they have been one of the Leafs best lines of late.
Substitute Kerfoot & Acciari on the 2nd line with Tavares and Nylander.
Injuries always happen in the playoffs and as we have seen in the recent past Leafs are not immune to this voodoo.
They will all be needed as the group that starts game #1 against Tampa is not likely to be the exact same group that finishes game #7.


4.) 11 Apr 2023
11 Apr 2023 08:57:24
I thought he looked like a kid playing his first nhl game last night… what stood out was his ability to win puck battles along the boards had that Matthews look to
It he was able to make a few plays but was never really a scoring threat last night one take away for me would be if like to see him throw his weight around more but again it was his first nhl game.

The leafs can’t do what they did with Robertson and try and force feed him into this lineup I see his being with the team during the playoffs and basically getting experience of being an everyday pro and hopefully he plays for the marlies alongside some of our other prospects and grow his game a bit more.


5.) 11 Apr 2023
11 Apr 2023 16:21:36
His best bet is probably to join the Marlies for a playoff run and play a more important role.


6.) 12 Apr 2023
12 Apr 2023 07:40:41
That would be the best for him, but I think there's a contract rule against him playing for the Marlies until next year, something to do with him coming out of the NCAA.


7.) 12 Apr 2023
12 Apr 2023 23:40:15
@Randy I seem to recall that as well.


8.) 13 Apr 2023
13 Apr 2023 15:33:47
I wasn't aware of that. Maybe he gets to travel with the leafs then, absorb the playoff atmosphere.
Gonna be tough to play him, with such a small sample size.