Matthew Knies has the potential to make an impact for the Toronto Maple Leafs, possibly as soon as this year.
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t drafted high for several years now, often trading their top picks, so it’s reasonable to ask if they have any prospects who can graduate to the NHL level.
Personally, I only see one prospect who I feel can make the jump to the Leafs roster right now, and that prospect is Matthew Knies.
Yes, I am aware that he is unsigned at the moment, but the Leafs need a player like him.
They currently have Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds who would be referred to as “power forward”, but they are usually liabilities on the ice, whether it be discipline or defensively.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs look for their “power forward for the future”, I feel like Knies is their only shot from their current farm system at the moment.
Knies comes with a lot of upside, with size and speed, his puck protection skills, hands, and hand-eye.
He seems to be capable of making moves based on split-second decision making AND can force some chances with his “straight-line” approach to offense more often than not. He will need to work on a few things, but every young player has to work on something.