Ranking extension candidates of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Knies is Leafs Most Urgent Extension Candidate
Marner betting on himself for a big year heading towards free agency is a wise decision. It will only increase his market. Barring a catastrophic injury, he will get paid handsomely, even with a subpar season.
Treliving and the Maple Leafs should wait out this season as well. Marner's contract expiring gives them options to shake up the roster if the team disappoints again. If they offer him fair value (for less than Matthews) after this coming year and he chooses to walk, that is better than signing an early extension and limiting the team's trade and salary cap options.
That leaves Knies as the player the Leafs should most urgently pursue for a contract extension. The team must be proactive and get the young power forward signed to a long-term deal. Should Knies' play continue to ascend, so too will his cost.
The Leafs should follow the lead of the Montreal Canadiens and Juraj Slafkovsky or the Minnesota Wild and Matt Boldy. Both teams risked a long-term deal in exchange for years of free agency. It's the type of move made by forward-thinking organizations.
Signing a short-term, bridge deal runs the risk of the Leafs paying more for Knies later. A long-term extension now gives the Maple Leafs a better chance of managing the salary cap and keeping all of Matthews, Nylander, Marner, and Knies.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have many candidates to consider for an extension. In all cases, but one, they are best to show patience and let the upcoming season play out. Matthew Knies is the exception.