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

[Leaf Fans]

The last I remembered the score is what decides the winner

It does. The team who scores most in the allotted time is the winner. It doesn't apply to individuals though. Knies while playing well, has only 1 assist, but his team have won their 3 games. So, you remember how a team can win a game, but you didn't realize that the players that make that team can impact the game in different way. That is why looking at the box score doesn't really indicate how well a player is playing. For example a defenceman may shut down an opponent and never show up on the box score. ( Admittedly there may be an advance stat for that). Or as another example a player might Hussle and harrass the opponent all game create opportunities by closing down and hounding pucks, like Kines,and not make the scoring tables.

 

[Racer88]

It does. The team who scores most in the allotted time is the winner. It doesn't apply to individuals though. Knies while playing well, has only 1 assist, but his team have won their 3 games. So, you remember how a team can win a game, but you didn't realize that the players that make that team can impact the game in different way. That is why looking at the box score doesn't really indicate how well a player is playing. For example a defenceman may shut down an opponent and never show up on the box score. ( Admittedly there may be an advance stat for that). Or as another example a player might Hussle and harrass the opponent all game create opportunities by closing down and hounding pucks, like Kines,and not make the scoring tables.

I fully admit that I have only watched one of the Canadian games so far. Hopefully Canada gets to play USA. That one I will watch for sure.
I am fully behind this kid and hope he lives up to all the Leafs fans hype.

 

[notdoneyet]

Watch the games
Many times knies has been in the clear only to have cooley be a puck hog and not pass the puck
They dont play well together
He may have a piss poor year in the ncaa too

 

[Leaf Fans]

I fully admit that I have only watched one of the Canadian games so far. Hopefully Canada gets to play USA. That one I will watch for sure.
I am fully behind this kid and hope he lives up to all the Leafs fans hype.

I hope so too. Canada vs USA are always great games.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

These 3 games can be disappointing and also not be some kind of determination on his future....because it is 3 f***ing games. He hasn't been good so far, no point in sugar coating it. This isn't some sky is falling moment on his potential going forward. It will be okay.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Good to see this board is doing predictable dumb Leaf fan things and freaking out over a meh summer tournament performance...it's a glorified Summer Showcase, I don't think anyone would be shitting themselves if he didn't do much in that, but it has the WJC tag so pants are filling.

 

[SoftDumpNtheCorner88]

Good to see this board is doing predictable dumb Leaf fan things and freaking out over a meh summer tournament performance...it's a glorified Summer Showcase, I don't think anyone would be shitting themselves if he didn't do much in that, but it has the WJC tag so pants are filling.

This.

These guys are only stat watching and it's embarrassing that this mentality is the majority of this fan base.

The kids been good, playing with a high motor and always puck hounding. He's playing the big body infront of the net and down low. I would even argue Knies is the reasons that line generates so much zone time. He's the Hyman on that line, digging in corners using his body to shield the puck and create problems for the defense when rebounds come.

He needs to work on his agility, edge work and a quicker release in tight.

He hasn't been slow to the point he falls behind and he uses his body well, can make a nice pass and has great instincts.


He's not utilized as a scorer on the line he's on... What don't people get about that? He's being used as the Bunting/Hyman on that line.. and he's been fine in that role. It won't show up on the sheet but he's working hard. His linemates aren't finding when's he's open.

 

[Nineteen67]

Every time I’ve seen him play he’s been good. He’s big and has a lot of upside.
Hopefully he plays well enough to help the US team make the gold medal game.

 

[horner]

Watch the games
Many times knies has been in the clear only to have cooley be a puck hog and not pass the puck
They dont play well together
He may have a piss poor year in the ncaa too

I agree
Cooley loves Michigan to much.
It must be tough to play with someone like that.

 

[notdoneyet]

WJC means nothing

How many players in the past have had elite scoring at this tournament and have never gotten a sniff at the NHL

I think knies is being misused

It seems like the coaching system has him going to the net and standing there and not creating like he has in the past

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Every time I notice Knies, Cooley’s making the whole play about himself. Knies could have had a bunch of great looks, but he’s playing with a one-man show

 

[Mike4Leafs4ever]

It is also ok to admit that he has played well, and he will have a bigger impact when the games are more competitive. We don't need to act like the tournament is over when the competitive games are really just starting. If he has a poor tournament, we will know at completion of the championship.

Yo called this right. Knies is having a fantastic game through two periods against the swedes. 1 assist, crashing the net for in close chances, a huge hit. Major improvement over the last two games.

It makes me super-excited to have him on the Leafs for the playoff run.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Yo called this right. Knies is having a fantastic game through two periods against the swedes. 1 assist, crashing the net for in close chances, a huge hit. Major improvement over the last two games.

It makes me super-excited to have him on the Leafs for the playoff run.

He has been good the whole tournament, but this is his best game for sure!

 

[JSn0w93]

Knies is exactly the type of player we've been missing upfront.

 

[Ciao]

My first impression of Knies is pretty big and a bit slow.

From what little I've seen -- and it's not very much -- I don't see anything that suggest top-six NHL forward.

Mind you, it's just a quick first impression, that's all.

 

[Prominence]

My first impression of Knies is pretty big and a bit slow.

From what little I've seen -- and it's not very much -- I don't see anything that suggest top-six NHL forward.

Mind you, it's just a quick first impression, that's all.

He’s not going to close out on defenders quickly enough. I don’t even think he will play the f1 (what hyman did for the leafs). His skating will continually need improvement (mobility and straight-line).

There are positives though.

One poster on this forum said he “dumps and chases,” which is absolutely not true. For a guy in his cohort, knies is very good at controlled entries. This is reflected in his transition stats in the ushl and his first ncaa season. His passing looks okay to pretty good from the clips i’ve seen of this tournament. I remember him as a volume shooter in the ushl, but it appears he’s deviated away from that- a good thing. Chemistry with cooley is going to be interesting going forward.

 

[rocketman588]

He doesn't seem to mesh well with Cooley hopefully they're on different lines at Minnesota

 

[Leaf Fans]

He doesn't seem to mesh well with Cooley hopefully they're on different lines at Minnesota

The entire line was excellent last night.

 

[ULF_55]

Cooley was 3rd. overall pick this year.

U.S. National Development Team 2021-22 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com

The roster, scoring and goaltender statistics for the 2021-22 U.S. National Development Team playing in the USHL.

www.hockeydb.com

Loaded development team.
...

Wonder if they (Cooley / Knies) will be used the same way at school?

 

[Twine Tickler]

does anyone remember Cole Caulfield's 2019-20 WJC tournament? he had 2 pts in 5 games despite playing PP1 and RW1. His linemate Trevor Zegras was one of the best players in the tournament and had 9 pts in the same 5 games.

He then followed it up with a 5pt in 7GP 2020-21 tournament in the same year he dominated the NCAA and ran away with the Hobey, while once again his liney Trevor Zegras dominated for 18 points in the same amount of games

I know a ton of people put a bunch of weight into this tournament, but it really is not the biggest indicator of what a player will be.

Knies is an incredible prospect. tournaments are always hit and miss. If you don't get off to a hot start you end up chasing the tournament. Absolutely nothing to worry about

 

[Shak19]

I have always thought of him to be David Backes type player... middle six forward, good size and toughness.

 

[Maria Sharapova]

Cooley is looking a lot like a Mitch Marner without the elite passing and defence lmao. Knies is tapping his stick and wants the puck and has found open ice but is looked off so Cooley can try to do something fancy.

Doesn’t help that he has the best shot on USA but is net front presence on the power-play looks like Auston when his wrist was busted and he couldn’t shoot but still played on the powerplay only Knies wrists are healthy.

 

[ULF_55]

I have always thought of him to be David Backes type player... middle six forward, good size and toughness.

Teams need all sorts of players.

Backes would be a great addition. (You know prime age Backes.)

 

[Fogelhund]

Hirvonen has 6 points in 3 games... great tournament for him so far.
Knies has 2 points in 4 games. he's played well, but the results haven't been there.

Does anyone believe that Hirvonen is the better NHL propect? Don't get too worked up positively, or negatively about a few games, in a summer tournament.

 

[stickty111]