LW Matthew Knies - Tri-City Storm, USHL (2021, 57th, TOR)
- Thread starter Pavel Buchnevich
- Start date
TheKrebsCycle
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Cooley is a stud so was a bit surprised by the “ easily best on the ice comment “ . But didn’t watch the game so no reference pt
I thought so. Don’t get me wrong, Cooley was his usual self. But Knies was dominant in every aspect imo. In addition to the chances he created, he had some standout defensive plays and drew at least two penalties. It’s also the little things, like on the first empty net goal. BU makes a pass into the high slot where Knies reads it, closes out, forces the turnover the other way for the goal.
Namikaze Minato
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Skinnyjimmy08
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- Mar 30, 2012
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Not even close. Mittelstadt was clearly the best, with two very important goals when things were really tight. Also had one in a losing cause in the Championship game. He has been good all post season....pretty good for an undrafted player.
I have been pumping Knies tires for the past two years, but he ended the season with a whimper, not a bang. He can't disappear from the scoresheet in big games while playing on the #1 line and PP, IMO.
Peasy
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dj Mahoney
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- Apr 11, 2021
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Knies isn't starting in the top 6.
Maybe he can get there, and if he does, that's fantastic but he isn't starting there.
Auston Matthews himself did not start in the top 6, he got there VERY quickly but he didn't start there.
If HE didn't start there why would Matthew Knies?
DatDude44
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- Feb 23, 2012
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You’re mixing up mittelstadt. Luke scored both in the semi, John scored in the natty
Not even close to the same player. Nash was big, really fast, and excelled in the open ice(when he was on). Very talented, but doubts about his commitment. Knies is not as big, not as fast, but more physical, and more of a small area player. I mean, he does ok in the open ice in college, but i wouldn't expect that in the NHL from him.
Ya, I certainly disagree. Watched the entirety of the last two games and Knies still created a number of prime chances. The amount of times Knies and Cooley in particular set up Snuggerud just for him to choke by missing open nets, hitting posts, etc. was nuts. Even last night, right before Cooley took that penalty late, Knies set Cooley up infront with a great pass where he was all alone in the slot. Cooley tried a fancy move and failed.
Would be acting a lot different if a few of those went in. But if you’re looking to finger point on that line, Snuggerud was a ghost considering the opportunities that his linemates created for him and his reputation as a finisher.
WarriorofTime
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- Jul 3, 2010
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Knies is a good player, definitely a guy that is Pro ready and I wouldn't be surprised if he made the Leafs next season (which makes sense from a cap standpoint). That being said, I think the Leaf hype train has blown him a bit out of proportion, but we'll see. Given that he is a Phoenix product, I wonder if Matthews will take an interest in mentoring him and they'll become linemates.
WarriorofTime
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And just to clarify, Luke should go in this year's draft as an overager. Very gifted D from the blue line. With the Core Gopher D set to go pro, he should play a huge role next season. John is ECHL/some mediocre Euro League like Austria or worse fodder, once he is done in college (for which he has 3 more years of eligibility and likely hangs around until he is 24).
- Apr 27, 2005
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To balance out the depth?
Knies is also 2 years older than Matthews was in his NHL debut.
WarriorofTime
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Regardless of what they called Matthews line, he played more time than any other forward in his first game and scored 4 goals...
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Yeah it appears to me Knies is basically untouchable to Toronto in trades the last couple deadlines due to circumstances: mature NHL style game, paid peanuts on an ELC for the next few years, a LW capable of playing with Matthews/Marner/Tavares, things Toronto badly needs. The same reason why the Bunting contract was such a coup for them. Some seem to be confusing those circumstances with Knies is untouchable because he's going to be a superstar caliber player, which seems unlikely to me.
TheBeastCoast
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It isn't like putting Knies in the top 6 would be asking him to carry a line lol I think he could be put anywhere in the top 9 and it would be fine. Just need to be a complimentary piece, get in on the forecheck dig pucks out and get them to whoever the line driver is as fast as you can(Matthews,Marner,Nylander whoever really).
Auston Matthews was also a #1 overall pick and he didn't start there.
You bring up depth alright let's look at that, we won't even talk about Matthews and Tavares because they are centers but ROR has played mostly wing since he got here so he will be included, although Tavares did play a couple games on ROR Wing but I still see Tavares as a center
As of today you have.
Marner
Nylander
ROR
Bunting
Jarnkork
Kerfoot
Those are wingers that make up the top 9.
Now you want him to start in the top 6.
So which top 6 winger do you go to and say "hey we are handing this raw rookie your spot?"
Is it the 98, possibly 99 point winger?
Is it the 38 goal 83 point winger?
Is it the former playoff MVP, cup champion and top defensive forward.
Is the man that has had a career year in both goals and points for 2.1 million?
Or is it the man that was nominated for rookie of the year last year and is going to put up 50+ points again baring injury or rest?
Yes I'm including both Bunting and Jarnkork because they have spent significant time in the top 6.
So you have 5 options.
Which spot is he being gifted?
If he comes in and TAKES a top 6 spot that's fantastic.
But you want him gifted a top 6 spot, so which one?
acrobaticgoalie
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Knies said earlier this year that he and Matthews text each other throughout the year and he gives him advice.
Would be interesting if the Leafs could resign O'Reilly and Acciari. If Knies reaches his potential and as soon as next year, their top 6 is set.
Knies Matthews Marner
Tavares O'Reilly Nylander
Robertson Holmberg Jarnkrok
McMann/Steeves Lafferty/Kampf Acciari
It is blowing my mind seeing people put Knies in the top 6 already for this year or next. How many players outside of elite prospects are top 6 right away?
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acrobaticgoalie
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I used the word "if". I don't necessarily expect him to. Even if it's in the bottom 6, he is still a boost to those lines and gives us something we are lacking.
If he does end up gelling well in the top 6, he won't be expected to be a line driver, he'll be a passenger or complimentary player. They just need him to use his size in the corners to gain posession and be a guy that can use his size in f4ont or around the net. Marner/Matthews or Tavares/Nylander will do the rest and he can bang in onetime or rebounds. That's the role Hyman played and he did it right off the bat. Knies has better hands and a shot than Hyman did coming up.
