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

[deltamachine]

He looks damn sexy. And oh, he looks good on the ice too.

 

[francis246]

Right back at you.



Clearly they want to find a reason to get him into the lineup for the post-season.

The mad scramble and salary cap ridiculousness they went through this past week just to get a college player into a few meaningless regular season games? Come on.

... the only reason they had to scramble and do cap gymnastics is because Matt Murray, Sam Lafferty and Calle Jarnkrok all got injured. Then we couldn’t use LTIR. So that completely messed up our cap situation. If they don’t get injured Knies is signed normally.

The cap gymnastics had less to do with Knies and more to do with unexpected injuries that tied the leafs hands in terms of LTIR and roster movement.

And even if you are right, the organization should be desperate to a top prospect. What’s the issue? We won all the games?

 

[TMLAM34]

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Tavares - O’Reilly - Nylander
Kerfoot - Acciari - Jarnkrok
Aston Reese - Kampf - Lafferty

McCabe - Brodie
Rielly - Schenn
Giordano - Holl

We’ll probably see those lines to start the playoffs.

If Aston Reese or Lafferty don’t impress or contribute, I can see the Knies coming in.

 

[Tarmore]

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Tavares - O’Reilly - Nylander
Kerfoot - Acciari - Jarnkrok
Aston Reese - Kampf - Lafferty

McCabe - Brodie
Rielly - Schenn
Giordano - Holl

We’ll probably see those lines to start the playoffs.

If Aston Reese or Lafferty don’t impress or contribute, I can see the Knies coming in.

I'm more or less with you. Unless there is an injury I don't see him starting in the play-offs, at home.

He will play in the play-offs as a result of an injury/bad play of a player/a team loss IMO.

 

[Rob Brown]

I'm more or less with you. Unless there is an injury I don't see him starting in the play-offs, at home.

He will play in the play-offs as a result of an injury/bad play of a player/a team loss IMO.

I wonder if Lafferty is out to start the series. Unless I've missed it entirely, there have been very few updates on his status, so I wonder if he's going to miss the start. Knies would be in if that's the case.

 

[Razz]

... the only reason they had to scramble and do cap gymnastics is because Matt Murray, Sam Lafferty and Calle Jarnkrok all got injured. Then we couldn’t use LTIR. So that completely messed up our cap situation. If they don’t get injured Knies is signed normally.

The cap gymnastics had less to do with Knies and more to do with unexpected injuries that tied the leafs hands in terms of LTIR and roster movement.

And even if you are right, the organization should be desperate to a top prospect. What’s the issue? We won all the games?

I mean, yeah the situation was ultimately caused by Murray's injury, they could have just taken their time and done it for the season closer to burn off that first year and be done with it. The telling sign was all the craziness for the extra two games.

They definitely see him as more than a prospect and emergency guy these playoffs.

 

[Twine Tickler]

The kid is a bonafide NHL player already. I love the way this kid competes with the puck on his stick. When he put Schneider into the spin cycle and then drove hard to the net last night.... chef's kiss

we've needed that combo of fearlessness, talent and size for a while. Of course Matthews is that personified, but having a guy like Knies as a compliment is such a luxury.

and the best part of it all is that he is only going to get better. We haven't even come close to seeing what he is fully capable of yet. I really hope Auston takes him under his wing and trains with him. You could not have built a better mentor for Knies' game

 

[GQS]

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Tavares - O’Reilly - Nylander
Kerfoot - Acciari - Jarnkrok
Aston Reese - Kampf - Lafferty

McCabe - Brodie
Rielly - Schenn
Giordano - Holl

We’ll probably see those lines to start the playoffs.

If Aston Reese or Lafferty don’t impress or contribute, I can see the Knies coming in.

Even though its likely we'll see this lineup in game 1 of the playoffs I would much prefer Knies be in the lineup over Aston Reese. He hasn't been bad at all during the season, but Knies in his 3 games has looked far more effective and dangerous offensively than Reese ever has for the entire season. Put Knies on the 3rd line to start and move him up if you want to try something different and put Kerfoot on the 4th line.

Also I'd MUCH rather have Liljegren in than either of Holl or Schenn, but given the choice I'd give Schenn the call for game 1 and see how he does and sit Holl out. Liljegren with his play during the season has shown that he deserves the chance to play in the post season over a guy like Holl.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Knies could hang with the boys in the playoffs, but that doesn't mean he will or should play in the playoffs. Don't get me wrong I've loved what I've seen, and while there is precedent for Keefe playing rookies in the playoffs, the Leafs aren't desperate up front like they were when Robertson was scoring our last 5 v 5 goal against Columbus in the bubble.

The playoffs are a completely different animal than three late regular season games. It's more physical, it's faster, and it's more intense. ZAR and Lafferty can each play that greasy style of game that'll be expected in the playoffs, and Lafferty's speed especially will be huge. Knies has looked good in the top six but does Keefe trust him enough to usurp Jarnkrok or Bunting? Hell one of Calle or Michael may not even be in the top 6 themselves if Tavares plays on the wing.

The bottom six will be tasked with shutting down Tampa's offensive weapons and being able to chip in a greasy goal here and there. Knies can certainly help with the latter part of those objectives, but I don't think he'll be able to handle the defensive responsibilities needed for that role. Especially if Tampa is going full tilt. Maybe at home where Keefe can control the matchups we'll see Knies. Also depends on how injured Lafferty is and if he'll be ready for Game 1.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Knies could hang with the boys in the playoffs, but that doesn't mean he will or should play in the playoffs. Don't get me wrong I've loved what I've seen, and while there is precedent for Keefe playing rookies in the playoffs, the Leafs aren't desperate up front like they were when Robertson was scoring our last 5 v 5 goal against Columbus in the bubble.

The playoffs are a completely different animal than three late regular season games. It's more physical, it's faster, and it's more intense. ZAR and Lafferty can each play that greasy style of game that'll be expected in the playoffs, and Lafferty's speed especially will be huge. Knies has looked good in the top six but does Keefe trust him enough to usurp Jarnkrok or Bunting? Hell one of Calle or Michael may not even be in the top 6 themselves if Tavares plays on the wing.

The bottom six will be tasked with shutting down Tampa's offensive weapons and being able to chip in a greasy goal here and there. Knies can certainly help with the latter part of those objectives, but I don't think he'll be able to handle the defensive responsibilities needed for that role. Especially if Tampa is going full tilt. Maybe at home where Keefe can control the matchups we'll see Knies. Also depends on how injured Lafferty is and if he'll be ready for Game 1.

Exactly correct

 

[ToneDog]

Kid looking better with each game.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Looked better with each game, and I think he still hasn't had an actual practice with the team.
I initially thought he'd be first replacement for an injured/poorly performing player, but he's making it difficult to keep him out.

 

[Zybalto]

Top3 5v5 xGF% among all 12 forwards who played the last 3 games:

1. Knies
2. Nylander
3. O'Reilly

Of course it was on 100% Ozone starts but that's exactly what he needs to do to earn Keefes trust that he can play in tougher NHL situations.

He may have bumped Lafferty/ZAR out of the starting lineup.

 

[SprDaVE]

Top3 5v5 xGF% among all 12 forwards who played the last 3 games:

1. Knies
2. Nylander
3. O'Reilly

Of course it was on 100% Ozone starts but that's exactly what he needs to do to earn Keefes trust that he can play in tougher NHL situations.

He may have bumped Lafferty/ZAR out of the starting lineup.

Lafferty should be sitting out. Very little impact and has missed awhile. He does bring some speed and can play center but... we're ok there.

ZAR may not be flashy but he's been hitting and on a bit of a hot streak lately.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Knies could hang with the boys in the playoffs, but that doesn't mean he will or should play in the playoffs. Don't get me wrong I've loved what I've seen, and while there is precedent for Keefe playing rookies in the playoffs, the Leafs aren't desperate up front like they were when Robertson was scoring our last 5 v 5 goal against Columbus in the bubble.

The playoffs are a completely different animal than three late regular season games. It's more physical, it's faster, and it's more intense. ZAR and Lafferty can each play that greasy style of game that'll be expected in the playoffs, and Lafferty's speed especially will be huge. Knies has looked good in the top six but does Keefe trust him enough to usurp Jarnkrok or Bunting? Hell one of Calle or Michael may not even be in the top 6 themselves if Tavares plays on the wing.

The bottom six will be tasked with shutting down Tampa's offensive weapons and being able to chip in a greasy goal here and there. Knies can certainly help with the latter part of those objectives, but I don't think he'll be able to handle the defensive responsibilities needed for that role. Especially if Tampa is going full tilt. Maybe at home where Keefe can control the matchups we'll see Knies. Also depends on how injured Lafferty is and if he'll be ready for Game 1.

Lafferty himself has only played 1 playoff game. ZAR has a bit more experience, but he's typically been underwhelming in the playoffs. If they're his competition, I'm really not impressed with either of them.

ZAR and Lafferty are more likely to play a safe game, but it really depends on what kind of mindset you want to have to set the tone for the series. I'd personally rather ice the best possible lineup and play to win than play it safe, but the Leafs have also been burned before with inexperienced players in the playoffs. I personally don't see much risk with Knies, but you never really know.

 

[4uston M4tthews]

I wouldn't miss ZAR at all, but I think we can find uses for Lafferty's speed and general grease in this Tampa series

 

[TMLAM34]

ZAR has looked better than Lafferty.

 

[Menzinger]

Worth noting the most conservative estimates for him missed the mark (which is fair because nobody can 100% see the Future).

But he looks like an NHLer - albeit one who still needs a bit of refinement

 

[crump]

Ask what Knies brings. Potential power forward. Not a defensive specialist at this level. So if you are having trouble breaking through defensive system and not scoring enough, you put him in for his work on the boards and offensive instincts driving the net. That’s probably top 6 or 3rd line. So it would be one if Bunting, Kerfoot or Jarkrok. If ZAR OR Lafferty are not effective you could bump Bunting down and throw Knies in the top 6.

 

[NJG]

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Nylander - Tavares - Jarnkrok
Kerfoot - O'Rielly - Knies
A.Reese - Kampf - Acciari

Rielly - Brodie
McCabe - Holl
Giordano - Schenn

Samsonov - Woll

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Worth noting the most conservative estimates for him missed the mark (which is fair because nobody can 100% see the Future).

But he looks like an NHLer - albeit one who still needs a bit of refinement

Im pretty sure those who have watched it prior to his time on the ice figured he was as close as he can be but yea he's definitely adaptive too which is incredible. Think he's definitely been more impactful than Robertson who went from the OHL to the bigs in the playoffs.

Keefe isn't shy about doing it so it definitely wouldn't surprise me. At the end whatever helps the team win.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[thomei]

Think this kid is an NHL'er.

 

[The Management]

I'm not sure I'd put him in over Lafferty (assuming he's available). For the first couple of games I'd roll with a conventional lineup. Knies has looked good, but I'm not sure the postseason is the place to work through the normal growing pains either. In the other hand, I am curious how he looks now that he's had an opportunity to rest and practice with the team.

Having said all that, he brings an element we don't really have in our bottom six, which is a refined set of hands. If we take a bit of a lead and we're not getting enough offense out of the bottom half of the lineup I'd give him a shot. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets a game in at some point versus Tampa.

Great to see Antropov by the way.

 

[kb]