The busy summer for the Toronto Maple Leafs is continuous. The Leafs have re-signed Matthew Knies to a six-year contract value $7.75 million per 12 months. Now, the previous Hobey Baker Award finalist will proceed to call Toronto home, in a deal that was a win for each side on this NHL Free Agency period.
The Maple Leafs had loads of work to do that offseason. The highest line from last 12 months consisted of Knies, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner. The franchise knew they’d be losing Marner in free agency, but Toronto worked a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and brought in Nicolas Roy. They’ve also acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth and brought back John Tavares.
Knies was a restricted free agent heading into this offseason. The American-born forward was drafted 57th overall within the 2021 NHL Draft by the Maple Leafs. He would spend two seasons playing for the Minnesota Golden Gophers before signing his entry-level contract with the Leafs. He would play three games within the 2022-23 season with seven playoff games. Since then, he has continued to grow as a player. In his first full season, Knies would rating 15 goals and add 20 assists. Then, this past 12 months, it was 29 goals and 29 assists for the forward.
The Maple Leafs make one other great move
Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill just won the Jim Gregory Award as NHL General Manager of the 12 months for a 3rd straight season. Brad Treliving is doing his best to be certain that there isn’t any fourth win. The Maple Leafs GM has already made some great moves this offseason. He made a move to sign-and-trade Marner, allowing the Leafs to get something in return for a player who was about to go away for nothing. Treliving also convinced Tavares and Jake McCabe to return on discounted contracts. He can have snagged great value with this Knies deal as well.
To start with, Knies was a significant a part of the offensive attack for the Leafs this past season. He finished fifth on the team in points while also sitting fourth on the team in goals. Further, he was a significant a part of the powerplay, with five goals and ten assists on the person advantage. He was also an element of the highest penalty-killing unit, which was successful last season. Still, it’s a few of the advanced stats that show the true value of Knies.
Knies saw his IPP, individual point percentage, increase in 5v5 situations this past 12 months. Further, he saw his scoring possibilities created and high danger scoring converted each increased as well. The previous Golden Gopher also saw his already impressive defensive stats improve. His blocked shots and hits given each increased this past season, continuing to point out his prowess as a two-way forward within the NHL.
From a financial perspective, this might work out in the long term for the Maple Leafs. The Leafs will still have slightly below $6 million in cap space to work with to fill out their roster. At a price of $7.75 million, Knies becomes the third-highest-paid player on the team. Further, he shall be along with his linemate, Matthews, for no less than the subsequent three years. It also locked up 4 of their top five scoring options from last 12 months for no less than three years as well. With the cap going up in the subsequent few seasons, and the previous second-round pick at just the age of twenty-two, there ought to be expected growth. That might make this deal a steal within the third or fourth 12 months.
Final thoughts and grade on the Matthew Knies contract
For the Leafs, they keep five of their top six forwards on the team with the return of Knies. Maccelli will probably join the highest line with Matthews and Knies this 12 months, which can put Knies in additional scoring positions this upcoming season. In addition they have Knies under contract for one extra 12 months than essential from the Knies’ perspective. With this deal, Knies has allowed the Leafs to purchase out his first 12 months of unrestricted free agency. With the cap expected to be over $113 million in the course of the lifetime of this contract, the Maple Leafs got great value.
For Knies, that is all about consistency. He did surrender his first 12 months of unrestricted free agency, but he does get to remain in a consistent situation for the subsequent six seasons. Further, he’s making a contract on par with the one JJ Peterka just signed. Peterka had one fewer goal, but ten more points than Knies this past season, and has shown to be the more consistent offensive threat.
Getting paid in step with a player of the extent of Peterka is a win for the American-born forward. If he continues his profession trajectory, he shall be underpaid by the tip of the contract, but he can even be just 28 when he hits the open market and will rating a significant payday.
Maple Leafs Grade: A-
Knies Grade: B