“It could go to $9M… Sign Knies first and see what’s leftover… because he’s going to get offer sheeted.”

[hockeywiz542]

Insider Trading: Next Knies contract a priority for Leafs | TSN

TSN’s Hockey Insiders discuss Toronto’s pending RFA Matthew Knies, Gabriel Landeskog’s AHL conditioning stint, the Panthers and Aaron Ekblad, Rob Blake’s contract status with the Kings and what the future holds for Don Sweeney in Boston.

www.tsn.ca

Next Knies contract a priority for Leafs

Reda: The good news? Matthew Knies is on fire. The concerning news? He's about to get super expensive and could get targeted from outside the Leafs organization. To speak to that and more, the insiders, Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun. CJ, how do you see the Leafs handling the 22-year-old rising star who needs a new deal after this season?

Johnston: Well, Matthew Knies is a big priority for the Maple Leafs and so well, I can understand to some degree where the speculation of an offer sheet might be out there and being discussed, I don't believe it's really a threat when it comes to this player. There's a couple of reasons for that, Matthew Knies himself is not really interested in entertaining an offer sheet. I don't think that this is something that him or his agent is looking for heading into the marketplace and the second part of that is the Maple Leafs feel they have plenty of cap space to get their business done this summer. Where that will start? Mitch Marner. What happens with the pending UFA? I think the decisions on Knies will flow from that in terms of does he go for a long-term deal, short-term deal? How much money will be left? [It] will be decided at that point, but you know, heading into this summer, I really believe the Leafs are in a position to sign this player and if he were to sign an offer sheet, they'd likely match it.

 

[TheDoldrums]

 

[Stephen]

What a beauty, loyal too.

 

[rielledup]

I hope Leafs management is smart enough not to get fooled by his extremely high and unsustainably high shooting percentage and don't view him/pay him as a legit 30 goal scorer.

 

[Leafidelity]

I hope Leafs management is smart enough not to get fooled by his extremely high and unsustainably high shooting percentage and don't view him/pay him as a legit 30 goal scorer.

Shooting percentage tends to go up when you score more of your goals banging in rebounds

 

[Delete1]

I think this will end up being a pretty easy contract to finalize. There are a good number of comps, and the player basically has no rights.

 

[IPS]

I think this will end up being a pretty easy contract to finalize. There are a good number of comps, and the player basically has no rights.

I think so too. Just signed a massive Adidas deal, turning into a fan favourite in very short order, and obviously has a spot well carved out beside Matthews/Marner.

Beyond having no rights - why would he ever want to mess with this amazing situation he has in Toronto.

 

[Its not your fault]

Why is it every other team locks these guys up right away and we always wait till the price goes up?

Because when we lock em up they decline.

 

[arso40]

Shooting percentage tends to go up when you score more of your goals banging in rebounds

Makes you wonder why more people dont go to the net eh

 

[arso40]

Absolutely love Knies Hes everything we wanted one of these guys to be Hes not a bitch, amazing, need a few more of em

 

[Divine]

Like I said earlier

I doubt there's any teams in the league signing up to give their unprotected 1st in the McKenna draft to overpay Matthew Knies.

 

[Squiffy]

I hope Leafs management is smart enough not to get fooled by his extremely high and unsustainably high shooting percentage and don't view him/pay him as a legit 30 goal scorer.

Oh he is going to get paid. Don't dream otherwise.

 

[Sundinisagod]

I don’t think 9m x 8 would be bad at all.

Anything less is a discount imho.

 

[Menzinger]

Even if the Leafs opt to pay top dollar for the full 8 years, it should still be great value as his game develops. Rare blend of a guy who can crash and bang when the game gets tight while also having a high natural skill set.

The guy loves playing here, the team loves him. Just get it done

 

[Confucius]

Makes you wonder why more people dont go to the net eh

 

[Madap]

I hope Leafs management is smart enough not to get fooled by his extremely high and unsustainably high shooting percentage and don't view him/pay him as a legit 30 goal scorer.

You don’t think he’s a legit 30 goal scorer moving forward? The guy will get a ton of goals just by being in front of the net, but he’s also super talented too. He’s also the youngest player on the team - even if his shooting % goes down a bit he’s still going to get better of the next few years. 9M is pretty high though and we should be able to get him for less than that I would hope.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I don’t think 9m x 8 would be bad at all.

Anything less is a discount imho.

I'd like it more at 8x8 or 8x8.5 but I'd at least consider 8x9. If 9M he has to give us 8 years and no NMC for me to tolerate it.

 

[Jmo89]

What a beauty, loyal too.

We will see when the contract is signed but it looks like he escaped the Marleau and Paul Marner influence. At the very least it looks like he snot interested in negotiating through the media which is a nice change.

He's going to be a big part of the Leafs "second window". Let's hope it's more successful than what we have seen so far.

 

[yubbers]

I'd do 9x5 with the cap going up. Marner is gone though

 

[Seras]

I'd do 9x5 with the cap going up. Marner is gone though

8x8.25 and Marner isn't going anywhere

 

[Leafs87]

The podcast is bs. Now confirmed. Just very alarming how the Leafs can never get full term for young players or fair deals. Also the worst of the worst. 5 years and a high cap. Never a bridge at a low hit or an 8 year deal.

 

[Niagara Bill]

I think so too. Just signed a massive Adidas deal, turning into a fan favourite in very short order, and obviously has a spot well carved out beside Matthews/Marner.

Beyond having no rights - why would he ever want to mess with this amazing situation he has in Toronto.

Taxes, home country, home town, less press pressure

 

[Aashir]

What a beauty, loyal too.

It's great that he says this, but let's see it in action

Nylander said he loved playing here, but didn't take any discount
Marner is talking about how much he loves being a leaf but he doesn't put pen to paper
Tavares is a good old hometown boy and yet he's gonna get around 7-8

I like that he says he wants to be a leaf, but is he willing to sign a fair deal. I don't even expect a discount anymore because no one ever gives us one despite all the luxuries we can and do provide.

 

[Stephen]

We will see when the contract is signed but it looks like he escaped the Marleau and Paul Marner influence. At the very least it looks like he snot interested in negotiating through the media which is a nice change.

He's going to be a big part of the Leafs "second window". Let's hope it's more successful than what we have seen so far.

I like his mentality a lot. He’s a cocky, confident kid and a real power game but doesn’t have that anointed aura about him. Just a brawny player who enjoys mixing it up.

 

[Menzinger]

You don’t think he’s a legit 30 goal scorer moving forward? The guy will get a ton of goals just by being in front of the net, but he’s also super talented too. He’s also the youngest player on the team - even if his shooting % goes down a bit he’s still going to get better of the next few years. 9M is pretty high though and we should be able to get him for less than that I would hope.

He was a skill oriented guy in college.

He's got legit high hockey IQ + hands..he just also happens to put himself into the ight net front position a lot to take advantage of rebounds. Even with an inflated sh% I don't see a lot of risk here