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Prospect Info: 2021 2nd Rd Pick (#57 OA) - Matthew Knies (LW) - Tri-City (USHL)

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Isaac Nootin said:
Man, the hype train is once again out of control.

That's not me saying Knies isn't a promising prospect, but let's pump the breaks a little.
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To be fair, Knies is a ridiculously good prospect. Both the eye test and underlying numbers suggest he's the real deal.

Add the rarity of his playstyle (legit power forward) and I can see where the excitement comes from.
 
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Eternal Leaf said:
To be fair, Knies is a ridiculously good prospect. Both the eye test and underlying numbers suggest he's the real deal.

Add the rarity of his playstyle (legit power forward) and I can see where the excitement comes from.
Click to expand...
Like many other fan bases, Leafs Nations has been excited about many failed prospects in the past. I hope (and don't think that's the case here) but I'd temper expectations. Some here have unrealistic views on how well/quickly he will transition to the NHL game.
 
Eternal Leaf said:
To be fair, Knies is a ridiculously good prospect. Both the eye test and underlying numbers suggest he's the real deal.

Add the rarity of his playstyle (legit power forward) and I can see where the excitement comes from.
Click to expand...

The thing is though you have to remember his production isn't elite. It's very good, borderline great for a D1, but it's not like he's trending to be a mega-star or untouchable like it feels some guys in this thread/marlies thread are projecting him as. It's a great way to get disappointed in a guy who's trending into a solid top-6 F who's playstyle is something a lot of guys feel is missing from the top-6.

For U20 players in the NCAA this season he ranks T-8th in PPG:

T1. Kent Johnson (1.21)
T1. Matty Beniers (1.21)
3. Carter Savoie (1.20)
4. Jake Sanderson (1.13)
T5. Matt Coronato (1.06)
T5. Josh Doan (1.06)
T5. Brett Berard (1.06)
T8. Matthew Knies (0.97)
T8. Luke Hughes (0.97)
T8. Thomas Bordeleau (0.97)

Its great to be excited about him. I just don't want him coming to the NHL and people having expectations of him being Boldy or Beniers, etc. or getting disappointed if he doesn't immediately translate.
 
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fahad203 said:
Isnt he playing in final frozen four ?
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He should be, they just wrapped up the Big 10 Tournament (yesterday) where Michigan beat Minnesota in the final 4-3. Knies with 2 goals.

They will both be seeded and off to the Frozen 4, only what region and what seed left TBD.
 
Bunting Matthews Marner
Knies JT Nylander
Mikheyev Kerfoot Robertson
Engvall Kampf Spezza

Not saying it should stay like this but definitely worth a shot
 
If Knies can be a Josh Anderson type, that's an incredible pickup. A physical top6 winger with some scoring is exactly what the doctor ordered, even if he doesn't become a core level piece. Absolutely incredible jump in development if he's this close to NHL ready. While I'm hopeful that really he is that good, I'd also be totally fine letting him develop in the NCAA for another year. He's clearly a great prospect, but we absolutely should not rush him.

But c'mon, I gotta get a little hyped if only for the fun of it. What a smash hit of a draft pick, a legit PWF prospect who's likely NHL ready in time for this core??? Holy shit. PWF's take a long time to grow into their game, Hyman and Bunting didn't figure it out until they were 26, Anderson was 24. We took a 57th OA and turned it into that at 19/20? Hot. Damn. If Knies is already this good at 19, I can't wait to see where he ends up. We could be talking about a core piece here, and both the timeline and value are phenomenal.

Knock on wood that he turns out. 6'3, nose for the net, and has the talent to take it to the scoring areas himself? Would love to have that kind of guy in the top6, every team in the league covets that kind of impact.
 
This is a 2nd round draft pick that many felt was a steal at where he was drafted.

His skating is strong, he has soft-hands and scores, brings NHL size and isn't afraid to use his body.

Why shouldn't we be excited?

I don't think anyone is mentioning his name as a Calder threat next season. I think we are all eager to see him get a cup of coffee with the big boys and see how he does.

No more, and no less. Considering the last guy we had that even came close to Knies package, we gave away to Florida for a midget not even in the NHL? Oh yeah, that guy is lighting it up there in Florida........

Not sure why we shouldn't be eager to see what our top prospect can do, but to each their own.
 
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If you listen to the CJ show, he said leafs are very likely to sign Knies as they want him in NHL games to end off the season
 
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francis246 said:
If you listen to the CJ show, he said leafs are very likely to sign Knies as they want him in NHL games to end off the season
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Definitely excited to see him in the Leafs lineup. Hopefully they give him a real opportunity to excel opposed to slotting him on the 4th line left wing.
 
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LeafGrief said:
If Knies can be a Josh Anderson type, that's an incredible pickup. A physical top6 winger with some scoring is exactly what the doctor ordered, even if he doesn't become a core level piece. Absolutely incredible jump in development if he's this close to NHL ready. While I'm hopeful that really he is that good, I'd also be totally fine letting him develop in the NCAA for another year. He's clearly a great prospect, but we absolutely should not rush him.

But c'mon, I gotta get a little hyped if only for the fun of it. What a smash hit of a draft pick, a legit PWF prospect who's likely NHL ready in time for this core??? Holy shit. PWF's take a long time to grow into their game, Hyman and Bunting didn't figure it out until they were 26, Anderson was 24. We took a 57th OA and turned it into that at 19/20? Hot. Damn. If Knies is already this good at 19, I can't wait to see where he ends up. We could be talking about a core piece here, and both the timeline and value are phenomenal.

Knock on wood that he turns out. 6'3, nose for the net, and has the talent to take it to the scoring areas himself? Would love to have that kind of guy in the top6, every team in the league covets that kind of impact.
Click to expand...

The thing is he's a lot more skilled than Josh Anderson in some ways. Knies is out there deking people like Marner. Now that's not going to work immediately in the NHL, but I think he flashes more skill plays than most of the good NHL power forwards did as prospects.
 
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TheDoldrums said:
The thing is he's a lot more skilled than Josh Anderson in some ways. Knies is out there deking people like Marner. Now that's not going to work immediately in the NHL, but I think he flashes more skill plays than most of the good NHL power forwards did as prospects.
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Seems like he's got some tools to be really special. Putting it all together is easier said than done and he might settle in as an Anderson type, but there's some dynamite potential if he keeps up this trajectory.
 
Morgs said:
The thing is though you have to remember his production isn't elite. It's very good, borderline great for a D1, but it's not like he's trending to be a mega-star or untouchable like it feels some guys in this thread/marlies thread are projecting him as. It's a great way to get disappointed in a guy who's trending into a solid top-6 F who's playstyle is something a lot of guys feel is missing from the top-6.

For U20 players in the NCAA this season he ranks T-8th in PPG:

T1. Kent Johnson (1.21)
T1. Matty Beniers (1.21)
3. Carter Savoie (1.20)
4. Jake Sanderson (1.13)
T5. Matt Coronato (1.06)
T5. Josh Doan (1.06)
T5. Brett Berard (1.06)
T8. Matthew Knies (0.97)
T8. Luke Hughes (0.97)
T8. Thomas Bordeleau (0.97)

Its great to be excited about him. I just don't want him coming to the NHL and people having expectations of him being Boldy or Beniers, etc. or getting disappointed if he doesn't immediately translate.
Click to expand...

Is the excitement about his points, or about his game and style?
Didn't the Leafs have a NCAA ROY a few years back who amounted to nothing?
IMO Leafs need isn't points related.
 
francis246 said:
If you listen to the CJ show, he said leafs are very likely to sign Knies as they want him in NHL games to end off the season
Click to expand...

I guess the Leafs are opening up contract spots tomorrow then.

Should see some interesting contract dump trades.
 
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ULF_55 said:
Is the excitement about his points, or about his game and style?
Didn't the Leafs have a NCAA ROY a few years back who amounted to nothing?
IMO Leafs need isn't points related.
Click to expand...
Eh, I think exactly what they need is production from a guy projected as a top-6 F.

The NCAA Freshman of the year was Abruzzese, and he may be on the Leafs as soon as his season ends.
 
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Morgs said:
Eh, I think exactly what they need is production from a guy projected as a top-6 F.

The NCAA Freshman of the year was Abruzzese, and he may be on the Leafs as soon as his season ends.
Click to expand...

No this was several years ago, but within 10 I think ... time flies.

Could probably find him via google.

Okay, longer than I thought ago ... Jerry D.
 
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ULF_55 said:
Is the excitement about his points, or about his game and style?
Didn't the Leafs have a NCAA ROY a few years back who amounted to nothing?
IMO Leafs need isn't points related.
Click to expand...
Abruzzese? THe guy who had a point per game at the Olympics?

I wouldn't say he amounted to nothing yet. He's still in College.
 
kb said:
Abruzzese? THe guy who had a point per game at the Olympics?

I wouldn't say he amounted to nothing yet. He's still in College.
Click to expand...
It kind of sounds like they have 3 right now who are impressing in college.

Jerry D' was a bit further away than I thought, but times is relative and so years move along faster each year.
 
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ULF_55 said:
No this was several years ago, but within 10 I think ... time flies.

Could probably find him via google.

Okay, longer than I thought ago ... Jerry D.
Click to expand...

Leafs have never had an NCAA freshman of the year.

Abruzzese was the ECAC (which is the conference he plays in, Freshman of the year)
 
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