The Toronto Maple Leafs own two of the NHL’s top offensive threats, those obviously being Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews.
The Leafs have typically put these two on the same line over the past few seasons, and it has worked out pretty well to say the least. Putting one of the league’s best passers with arguably the NHL’s best goal scorer is bound to work out.
Over the last 3 seasons, both Marner and Matthews sit in the top-10 of NHL scoring, so it’s safe to say that pairing has been a good idea.
These two have typically been accompanied by a hard-working, ‘grinder’ type of player to help complement the 2 scorers. These many players include Calle Jarnkrok, Michael Bunting (by far the most successful), Nick Ritchie, Ilya MIkheyev, and most infamously, former Toronto Maple Leafs fan favourite Zach Hyman.
I think the Leafs have their Zach Hyman replacement, that being rookie Matthew Knies.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Next Zach Hyman
Matthew Knies is the perfect fit alongside Matthews and Marner, just like Hyman (and Bunting) was before him.
Both Hyman and Bunting thrived on the top line due to their ability to win puck races, win battles in the corner, and complement the other two. Matthew Knies is the perfect type of player to accompany Matthews and Marner.
He’s also bigger and more talented than either Bunting or Hyman.
Knies possesses many of the same skills that Hyman and Bunting possess, including a strong skating ability and physical presence on the ice.
Unfortunately for Knies, he has been placed on the 3rd line for most of the season, playing with the likes of Fraser Minten, David Kampf, and Max Domi for almost the entire year so far.
Knies has been fine on the third line, but in my opinion, should be used on the top line with Marner and Matthews.
Apart from one game, where Knies notched 2 goals and an assist in a 4-3 win vs Tampa Bay, he has just one assist in seven games played.
On the top line so far this year, Matthews and Marner have been accompanied by Tyler Bertuzzi, and more recently Calle Jarnkrok.
Bertuzzi is obviously a great player, but he has shown to play better in a situation where he can drive the play, rather than be a complimentary player.
As for Jarnkrok, he is a good player, but his time on the top line has been brutal. He is better off playing anywhere else in the lineup but can play on the first line if needed.
Knies on the other hand is the total package, he can skate, play the body, has a scoring touch, and a ton of upside, being only 21 years old.
In short, Knies should be on the top line.
It all makes sense for him to be playing there, and Sheldon Keefe should make this change as soon as he can.
Let’s see how Knies turns out the rest of the season.