Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign F Matthew Knies to ELC (3 years, $925k AAV)

[Tufted Titmouse]

I like that he seeks physical battles. He got that dawg in him.

 

[Kazparov]

Kid has promise. I hope that Leafs do right by him and develop his skills properly. Probably better for him to play 20-25 minutes a night in all situations on the Marlies next year.

I would not have a 3 game rookie on the playoff roster but the kid looks good out there! Definitely top 6 potential!

 

[ITM]

Stylistic complementaries aside, I think O'Reilly's mentality is something Knies needs to be plugged into and saturated with for as long as we have ROR; The benefits of his influence on a promising rookie coming into this franchise at this time should be self-evident. And I think doing the same for Nylander might give him a shot in the arm, to say: Drive the line with the Conn Smythe winner, Bill. Let's go big boy!

I'd pencil in this line as absolute, injuries notwithstanding:

Knies-ROR-Nylander

Didn't look too bad at all!

 

[Warden of the North]

Had a great game last night. Extremely close to his first goal.

 

[kb]

Kid is both based and chadpilled

LOL.

You are on 'the list' now,

 

[Damisoph]

The kid is really impressive. He's still the 13th forward on a playoff roster but I could see him getting in if an injury happens

 

[Burnie97]

Not that I didn't want him to get a shot in the playoffs but it's looking more and more like he legit will.

They must really believe he can step right in and it has to be at least on the 3rd line so he can get some minutes.

It'll be interesting to see the playoff lines. It's good to know that Leafs have some really solid options this year on forward and defense.

Woll has also made the Murray injury much less concerning.

But getting back to Knies... hopefully he can make an impact. He played a solid game last night.

 

[francis246]

Some physicality, some skill, and I think would work better defensively than JT and Nylander together....

I would keep Knies - O’Reilly - Nylander together.

Lafferty - JT - Marner shut down

Bunting - Matthews - Jarnkrok imo.

That’s a match up nightmare, then whatever combination you like for the fourth line

Kerfoot - Kampf - Accari

Accari - Kampf - ZAR/Simmonds so many possibilities.

The biggest bonus Knies has given us is increased depth. He makes our lineup so versatile and he can play with our skilled guys and probably lower in the line up too. So we have options

 

[Rob Brown]

I would keep Knies - O’Reilly - Nylander together.

Lafferty - JT - Marner shut down

Bunting - Matthews - Jarnkrok imo.

That’s a match up nightmare, then whatever combination you like for the fourth line

Kerfoot - Kampf - Accari

Accari - Kampf - ZAR/Simmonds so many possibilities.

The biggest bonus Knies has given us is increased depth. He makes our lineup so versatile and he can play with our skilled guys and probably lower in the line up too. So we have options

I like the idea of keeping Knies, ROR, and Nylander together, but would maybe do Acciari with JT and Marner vs. Lafferty based on your lines above.

 

[francis246]

I like the idea of keeping Knies, ROR, and Nylander together, but would maybe do Acciari with JT and Marner vs. Lafferty based on your lines above.

for sure, I just like the idea of Lafferty's speed with Marner and Tavares, lots of stretch plays. But If you want to make it a true shut down you could replace Acciari and it would work fine.

 

[notdoneyet]

Without going into great detail, there were parts of his game I liked. That said, too many mistakes to dress in the playoffs.

Galchenyuk is a prime example of how a unforced give away could cost a series.

I watched a norris trophy dman hedman give the puck away to nylander that led to a goal.

We have a 20 year old who did not look out of place and so called hockey experts are drilling him for a giveaway that didn’t result in a goal against

Two games different line mates no practice with the team and he gets criticized

What a bunch of hypocrites

 

[Martin Skoula]

I watched a norris trophy dman hedman give the puck away to nylander that led to a goal.

We have a 20 year old who did not look out of place and so called hockey experts are drilling him for a giveaway that didn’t result in a goal against

Two games different line mates no practice with the team and he gets criticized

What a bunch of hypocrites

I’d get it if we were talking about him vs Acciari or Kampf where they’re proven safe vets, but the guys he’d be replacing are Kerfoot or Bunting who are the most likely to make mistakes on the non-Knies roster.

 

[Avilaj07]

Without going into great detail, there were parts of his game I liked. That said, too many mistakes to dress in the playoffs.

Galchenyuk is a prime example of how a unforced give away could cost a series.

Oh, you mean like Kerfoot's no look drop back pass at his own blue line to no one that led to a 2 on 0 and Tampa scoring?

Or did you mean maybe Kerfoot taking a high sticking penalty 200ft from his own net while on the penalty kill to make it a 5 on 3 against the Leafs and Tampa scoring on that as well.

 

[WillyC]

IMO, Matthew Knies is probably a better hockey player than Alex Kerfoot… I would take a chance on the kid in these playoffs.

23-90-88 is a heavy load for any team to deal with.

 

[sxvnert]

IMO, Matthew Knies is probably a better hockey player than Alex Kerfoot… I would take a chance on the kid in these playoffs.

23-90-88 is a heavy load for any team to deal with.

"Kerfoot runs the football pool and well liked in the dressing room so...."

Apparently this is the reason why Knies hasn't been given a permanent spot and wasting 3.5m of cap space.

 

[Menzinger]

Oh, you mean like Kerfoot's no look drop back pass at his own blue line to no one that led to a 2 on 0 and Tampa scoring?

Or did you mean maybe Kerfoot taking a high sticking penalty 200ft from his own net while on the penalty kill to make it a 5 on 3 against the Leafs and Tampa scoring on that as well.

Kerfoot also stepped up when JT was injured against the Habs and put up 5 points in 7 games while playing centre....

I agree that he can be frustrating at times, but those two plays don't necessarily define him as a playoff performer either

 

[authentic]

Oh, you mean like Kerfoot's no look drop back pass at his own blue line to no one that led to a 2 on 0 and Tampa scoring?

Or did you mean maybe Kerfoot taking a high sticking penalty 200ft from his own net while on the penalty kill to make it a 5 on 3 against the Leafs and Tampa scoring on that as well.

Hedman actually lifted Kerfoots stick into his own face

 

[Gallagbi]

Hedman actually lifted Kerfoots stick into his own face

Its a pretty big reach on the 2on0 claim as well. Its a bad drop back leading to a partial breakaway on a chance Campbell should stop. Its Kerfoot's issue on the drop pass, but theres nothing close to a 2on0

 

[kevsh]

Pretty good breakdown of Knies' first couples of games. So much good in his game but I disagree with the writer that he should be in the lineup in game 1 as his upside offsets the mistakes. As I pointed out earlier, I get it's his first couple of games and mistakes are expected and acceptable, but there's one more game until it's for real.

Let him come in fresh next fall and have a full season to work out the kinks and if he does see action this year due to injuries I hope he runs with it and proves he belonged in the lineup from the start.

Will the Maple Leafs build a playoff lineup to win, or one to not lose?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a decision to make: ice a lineup that's designed to beat the Lightning, or one to not lose to them. Justin Bourne explains the difference and how he's thinking about the Leafs.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[3headeddragon]

Jarnkrok - Matthews - Marner
Knies - O'Reilly - Nylander
Accarai - Tavaras - Robertson
ZAR - Kampf/Holmberg -Lafferty


Great look on paper next season if DUBAS can make that work (use bunting and kerfoot cap on keeping O'Reilly and Accarai.

I 100% believe we should sign Luke Schenn to a 2yr x 1m contract, if he'll take it.

I hope Schenn pulls a Gio

 

[authentic]

Pretty good breakdown of Knies' first couples of games. So much good in his game but I disagree with the writer that he should be in the lineup in game 1 as his upside offsets the mistakes. As I pointed out earlier, I get it's his first couple of games and mistakes are expected and acceptable, but there's one more game until it's for real.

Let him come in fresh next fall and have a full season to work out the kinks and if he does see action this year due to injuries I hope he runs with it and proves he belonged in the lineup from the start.

Will the Maple Leafs build a playoff lineup to win, or one to not lose?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a decision to make: ice a lineup that's designed to beat the Lightning, or one to not lose to them. Justin Bourne explains the difference and how he's thinking about the Leafs.

www.sportsnet.ca

Here's a hot take, he will play in the playoffs, and more than just a few games.

 

[Menzinger]

Here's a hot take, he will play in the playoffs, and more than just a few games.

I also wouldn't be surprised. But a question is how early will he get an opportunity. I doubt he's in the lineup game one, but it'll be curious if he maybe gets in game 2 or 3

 

[AuraSphere]

He should probably spend some time with the marlies on their playoff run

 

[authentic]

I also wouldn't be surprised. But a question is how early will he get an opportunity. I doubt he's in the lineup game one, but it'll be curious if he maybe gets in game 2 or 3

I think he eventually takes a spot from Lafferty or ZAR. I think he'll be better than either of them and they'll quickly realize we're a better team with him in the lineup.

 

[Its not your fault]

Leafs also took Robertson straight from the OHL to make his NHL debut in the Columbus series, where I think he played 4/5 games

Funny, how often do people always clamor over such things as regular season stats. Granted around these parts our players for years wouldn't have much or any at all in the playoffs. So, what I'm getting at is we all always argue in regular season stats but hardly ever talk play off stats. When saying whose the better player. I do understand it's more even to compare regular season stats and fair. Still it's Kind of interesting. Because leafs can never ever claim regular season success. Even when they do it for 5 years straight.

Imagine a world where they first state their favorite team and player/players. Plus a history of all past ones. I find they go down harder then the best current player available at the draft.

Off hand why did Bozak play 37 games his first season?