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

[Leafsfan74]

astonishing choice though.

why risk things? take the money.

Imagine he gets injured playing NCAA next year, is out a year, never gains traction again?

It's his call obviously. If it was some reason other than going nack to play NCAA hockey, it would make some sense to me. Why remain in the baby leagues when you can show your stuff in the bigs?

Alot can change in a year for player and team.

 

[therealkoho]

Or he does the smart thing stays in school gets another shot at a national title, enjoy all that comes with it. After that sit down with the Leafs sign an ELC. Come up to Toronto and start working with the Leafs training staff and various players to use the summer as the first step into a long and productive pro career.

 

[2 Slick]

He wasn’t going to be a needle mover anyway, might as well let him develop and make sure he’s ready for the NHL. Good decision on his part, he knows he’s not ready.

 

[francis246]

Some of you guys need to simmer down. How many D+1 2nd round picks have made the NHL? Bergeron, O'Reilly... anybody else?

Off the top of my head Vanek, Heatley, Makar, Toews & JVR all played two years of NCAA and they were top-5 picks.

Exactly Caufield, Power, Greenway, Boldy, Gaudreau, so many other guys went back to college. It’s not that big of a deal

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[therealkoho]

Dreger writes it up like the Bud's are ordering Knies to bend to their will.....and then rewrites because he realizes what he actually intimated

what an ignoranimus, what a maroon

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Dreger writes it up like the Bud's are ordering Knies to bend to their will

what an ignoranimus, what a maroon

Dreger will always give Leafs news with the most negative slant.

 

[keonsbitterness]

He made the right decision to stay in school another year.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I think you get a better final product by letting him go back another year.

 

[ref19]

He wants to win a National Title.

 

[LeafChief]

Selfishly wanted him to come but there's nothing wrong with development. Hopefully he has a huge year net year and joins us for the stretch run.

 

[Menzinger]

He'll be a Leaf this time next year.

 

[Lauro]

I think it was the right decision for him AND the Leafs. Maybe Dubas didn't even really want him to come now. You see Abruzzese and that he won't be a factor in the playoffs. We didn't have space for Blackwell in our 2nd or 3rd line and wouldn't have for Knies right now.

 

[deprw]

I respect his decision, but it really confuses me - you work your whole life to get to the NHL, and when the opportunity comes knocking you say no? Even if he's only up here for 8-9 minutes a night, he's playing NHL hockey, practicing with NHL coaches and players, and working with NHL skills coaches & being put on a development plan.

That experience is exponentially more valuable than 12 more months in school, IMO.

Not a fan of how these discussions became so public. His reps using media people is pretty ridiculous.

From European fans stand point I'd say that it usually never hurts your career to be over ripe, when you come in to the NHL. If you a bit under developed it can really slow up players development, when you ran into wall and don't have tools to break it. Then lose your confidence and go from there. Have seen that many many times, because youngsters wants to get in the NHL and aren't really ready.

I don't see that as a big risk for Knies, but I'd say that playing one more season in the NCAA is safe and good bet for Knies. He can dominate and be top dog there and then transition. In NHL he would be middle6 or bottom6. It's a skill to handle the pressure and that is the "muscle" Knies can train in the NCAA.

Shame for us, because he could have been intriguing black ace for us in the playoffs, but he'll get here and has years to dominate in the NHL. No need to risk that for selfish reasons, it wasn't clear cut decision anyway. For some players it's now or never when you put contract under their nose, but Knies isn't one of them.

 

[Legion34]

Knies being on ELC while Matthews new contract comes up and Tavares being on his 11 million deal is by far the best outcome

 

[Mess]

Its always good advice to tell kids "to stay in school and get a good education to fall back on", if your aspirations of a being a professional hockey player don't work out.

I think Knies made the right decision here in this case and this situation can be revisited after next college season ends.

 

[TheShape]

Maybe I'm a little too high on the player but I don't think he's far off and could contribute on this team next season given our left side is completely wide open. Although once Dubas signed Abruzzese I got the vibe the odds of Knies joining would be lower.

Selfishly I wanted Knies here, but this buys the Leafs an extra year of ELC too.

 

[TMLAM34]

We’ll see him join the team next year around this time. I selfishly wanted him to join the team this year but understand his choice with going back to school for another year. Hopefully he can get a summer in with practicing with Matthews regardless this off-season.

 

[Shak19]

I am very disappointed in his decision to not sign. Clearly he lacks the killer instinct and is a bust.

 

[ULF_55]

So what happens if his team comes up short again in the finals?

Whatever, what's his name will get another season of school.

 

[Stephen]

Knies being on ELC while Matthews new contract comes up and Tavares being on his 11 million deal is by far the best outcome

Yeah, you want a more productive player starting a little later in his career and the zero overlap between a Knies second contract and the current Tavares and Marner deals will be big. Tavares takes a big paycut which goes to Marner, and Knies fits comfortably in the pecking order.

 

[Tarmore]

I wonder if he'll get a chance to train with Matthews in the summer in AZ?

 

[TheGroceryStick]

He hates us

 

[93LEAFS]

I wonder if he'll get a chance to train with Matthews in the summer in AZ?

He probably stays in Minnesota doing intersession/summer school and working out with local trainers there outside of going to the Leafs development camp. Power 5 schools have pretty unreal workout facilities and Minnesota is one of the big hubs of Hockey in the states and has the player development to match.

 

[Macallan18]

Dreger writes it up like the Bud's are ordering Knies to bend to their will.....and then rewrites because he realizes what he actually intimated

what an ignoranimus, what a maroon

too be fair, aren't all sports commentators idiots?
Some are sufferable, maybe, like Friedman, but they are few and far between.