![]() Owned and operated by MLSE, Scotiabank Arena opened its doors in February 1999 as Air Canada Centre (February 1999 to June 2018). We’ll soon find out if Knies is that kind of player.Īnd if he is able to prove the hype about him is well-founded, the Maple Leafs will happily welcome him into the top-six forward unit, for this year, and many seasons to come.Scotiabank Arena is Canada’s premier sports and entertainment venue and home to the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA’s Toronto Raptors. And it takes a certain kind of player to be able to thrive in the hockey fishbowl that is Toronto. ![]() Knies has developed a winning pedigree – he was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year this season – but that doesn’t always translate into effectiveness as a scoring threat. In a different time in their competitive cycle, the Leafs would’ve been able to offer Knies a slew of opportunities to learn as he plays, but as it currently stands, they can’t be picky about where their secondary scoring comes from. They have other players to experiment with, and whoever makes a dent on offense is the player who’ll stay in the top-six forward group. And the Leafs aren’t in a position to be patient and willing to roll out Knies night after night when he’s not succeeding. If he can’t succeed with Matthews, Marner, Tavares, and Nylander, Knies may need more professional seasoning before he’s truly ready to be a difference-maker at the NHL level. But many hockey observers believe that is a distant second choice for Leafs’ management when it comes to Knies. There’s also the possibility that Knies is eased into the NHL game as part of Toronto’s bottom-six group of forwards. PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 45: Canucks, Islanders, and The Boston Bruins NFL: What Eddie Robinson Told Doug Williams After He Made History 35 Years Agoįull Press Bets: Early 2022 NFL MVP Odds: Bills’ Josh Allen Favored NHL: NHL All-Star Game Thoughts and Possible Changes NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: New Jersey Devils Trade Targets But you can check this for the original link: Your browser does not support the audio element. Jim and Chris return to talk about the Boston Bruins 63 wins, Sidney NHL: Four Crucial Areas For Maple Leafs The Rest Of This Regular Season Keefe likes to experiment with different line combinations, and whatever situation produces the most success on offense is what Keefe will go with once the playoffs begin. ![]() There are other possible line combinations in Toronto’s top-six forwards that could put Knies alongside potential linemates and superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Depending on the health status of O’Reilly – who may be given the third-line center job after his return from injury – Knies will have a chance to play alongside star forwards John Tavares and William Nylander. Abruzzese has thrived on the American League’s Toronto Marlies this season, with 15 goals and 43 points in 62 games, but it says something about the Leafs’ depth up front that the 23-year-old Abruzzese has not played an NHL game this year.Īs soon as Knies signs with the Leafs, fans should expect to see Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe give him a shot at the second-line left winger position. Most recently, at the end of last season, the Buds signed collegiate star forward Nick Abruzzese and gave him a nine-game look at the NHL level. Giving Knies a shot at the NHL right after signing a contract with the Leafs wouldn’t be the first time Toronto brass has tested a youngster’s mettle with a late-season tryout. But anything the 20-year-old Knies brings to the table as a rookie has to be looked at as gravy for the veteran-laden Leafs. Now, it would be wonderful for Leafs GM Kyle Dubas to have Knies sign a professional contract once his NCAA season is over and thrive in his initial games as an NHLer. That said, the forward who could have the biggest impact for the Buds has yet to play his first game in hockey’s ultimate league: we speak, of course, of NCAA star forward Matthew Knies, Toronto’s most valuable prospect, who is finishing up his 2022-23 season with the University of Minnesota the Phoenix native is a collegiate star in his sophomore NHL season, with 21 goals and 41 points in 36 games this year.īut don’t expect the Leafs to be desperately seeking contributions on offense from Knies. The Toronto Maple Leafs did their utmost to improve their roster before the NHL’s March 3 trade deadline arrived, including deepening their group of forwards to include veterans Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Acciari, and Sam Lafferty. ![]()
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