As a Ranger fan I would take Knies over Othmann quite easily. Hes a way more projectable player.
LW Matthew Knies - Tri-City Storm, USHL (2021, 57th, TOR)
- Thread starter Pavel Buchnevich
- Start date
Rob Brown
Way She Goes
- Dec 17, 2009
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Loving Knies so far. Can't take him out of the lineup at all.
Looking like a solid complementary piece for Leafs, definitely NHL ready.
First of all, Tuch has developed since he came into the league. Believe it or not, when he first came in some thought his feet were a little bit slow, and that he was a bit disengaged. That changed pretty quickly...who knows what he would be without all the injuries?
Tuch is now a big, fast skating guy with a good shot who excels in open ice. Maybe not the best defender.
Knies is different. Big, decent skater, but it remains to be seen if he'll ever have Tuch's speed. Knies is more of a skilled grinder, who excels in smaller areas, around the board, and net front. Smart, and tough. He always struck me as a guy with a NHL ready game, even when he was in college.
Skinnyjimmy08
WorldTraveler
- Mar 30, 2012
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I really hope he brings this again next season right away and earns a spot on the team full time right off the bat for the season
He is fitting in unbelievably on the Leafs and has looked awesome so far. I always seem to notice him almost every shift
He is fitting in unbelievably on the Leafs and has looked awesome so far. I always seem to notice him almost every shift
TheKrebsCycle
Throwing Confetti for Perfetti
My man I wasn’t knocking knies at all . I’m a leaf fan I just don’t see many similarities stylistically: which you seem to agree w . Someone brought up a tj oshie comp . I think that’s way closer than tuch
Eternal Leaf
Registered User
He's been great and you can tell he will be a force as he enters his prime. A good complementary winger for the future.
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
- Apr 5, 2022
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bleedblue94
Registered User
- Jun 8, 2004
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He plays the game like a bull which is a lost arm in today's game. kid is going to be a good pro
- Apr 27, 2005
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This kid is such already a monster, reminds me so much of TJ Oshie. Power forward with great hands and shot who can bully himself through defenseman.
He also reminds me a bit of a young Todd Bertuzzi.
There just aren't a ton of skilled power forwards in the game these days, but everyone wants one. He's pretty clearly a top 10 pick in any redraft. I had him as a late first and was pretty bummed when the devils took Chase Stillman instead...
Two things I would like to see from him moving forward are to simplify a bit at his own blue line and start shooting the puck more. He's got an excellent shot but hasn't used it as much as he should.
He also reminds me a bit of a young Todd Bertuzzi.
There just aren't a ton of skilled power forwards in the game these days, but everyone wants one. He's pretty clearly a top 10 pick in any redraft. I had him as a late first and was pretty bummed when the devils took Chase Stillman instead...
Two things I would like to see from him moving forward are to simplify a bit at his own blue line and start shooting the puck more. He's got an excellent shot but hasn't used it as much as he should.
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
- Apr 5, 2022
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This kid is something special. One of our best players on the ice during the last two games. Tonight he helped drive play on whatever line he was put on. Similar to O’Reilly, he has that ability to make an important play at a key time.
We don’t win Game 4 without this play.
I don’t want a put a ceiling on him if he looks this good already.
We don’t win Game 4 without this play.
I don’t want a put a ceiling on him if he looks this good already.
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Hah, I’m a Leafs fan too, have watched every second of the playoffs (and >50% of the regular season), but … let’s pump the brakes a bit
He’s been very, very impressive for a 20 year old late 2nd rounder. Stepping into the playoffs with nearly zero NHL experience is tough, and he’s handled it beautifully - has majorly exceeded expectations so far. Physical, a puck hound, has made some nice defensive plays (especially that goal line save!), and generated some solid bits of offence, he looks like he belongs. But come on, he hasn’t been one of our best players these past 2 games. Matthews, ROR, Mitch, Rielly, Nylander, Kerfoot, Jarnkrok, Gio, Schenn, lots of guys have moved the needle more.
The Puckhound
Registered User
- Jan 24, 2019
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Kid can play. No idea where he ultimately lands as a player, but he's walked in and played great as a top 9 LWer which has been a need for the Leafs for awhile. When we shuffled the lines after the 1st he got serious time with Marner/Tavares, and prior to that was getting minutes with ROR. He absolutely should stay in the line-up. Probably our best prospect Leafs have had since Matthews/Marner/Nylander graduated.
He would make Justin Abdelkader proud. The torch has been passed.
- Sep 29, 2016
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Still don't see a lot of Abdelkader in this kid. Having said that, you can't argue against success. Toronto is winning playoff games since he's in the lineup. Didn't happen too often in recent years.
Colt.45Orr
Registered User
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
- Apr 5, 2022
- 6,222
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Leafs 6-0 with Knies in the lineup.
Isaac Nootin
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- Sep 28, 2017
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Wasn't incredibly involved in any of those goals, but it speaks volumes with getting ice time in such important situations. He's been fantastic.
Peasy
Registered User
He already does all the little things you want in a player when theyre first stepping into the NHL. Kid is a puck hound and relentless along the boards. His points will come with time.
Hah, I’m a Leafs fan too, have watched every second of the playoffs (and >50% of the regular season), but … let’s pump the brakes a bit
He’s been very, very impressive for a 20 year old late 2nd rounder. Stepping into the playoffs with nearly zero NHL experience is tough, and he’s handled it beautifully - has majorly exceeded expectations so far. Physical, a puck hound, has made some nice defensive plays (especially that goal line save!), and generated some solid bits of offence, he looks like he belongs. But come on, he hasn’t been one of our best players these past 2 games. Matthews, ROR, Mitch, Rielly, Nylander, Kerfoot, Jarnkrok, Gio, Schenn, lots of guys have moved the needle more.
Definitely disagree with you. Kerfoot, Jarnkrok, and Gio haven’t played well overall. Gio and Kerfoot came up big late last night, for sure. But when the team wasn’t going (most of the past two games), Knies was doing his thing and consistently making positive plays. One of the only guys making that positive impact on the ice regardless of what’s going on around him. I would easily put him in that group you listed sans Gio, Kerfoot, and Jarnkrok.
Zegs2sendhelp
Registered User
- Jul 25, 2012
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Better fit than bunting imo… tho he’s def going to have to work on awareness in terms of getting hit…. He’s take a couple pretty solid hits in the series, that prob could have been avoided
He handles the puck pretty well for a bigger guy using what I think is a slightly longer stick than usual, even for his size. He does seem to prefer pushing the puck out further from his body (where it's more prone to be stick checked away), as opposed to Matthews-style dragging it closer to his feet. Hopefully Auston can show him the ropes.
He certainly has no fear attempting unorthodox plays for controlled zone exits rather than just slamming the puck off the boards and out. Luckily Keefe isn't the type to try to beat that out of young players.
He certainly has no fear attempting unorthodox plays for controlled zone exits rather than just slamming the puck off the boards and out. Luckily Keefe isn't the type to try to beat that out of young players.
Has stepped in to the top 9 in a series against one of the best teams in hockey, and has some of the best possession numbers on the team in the series. I think it's a huge positive and great sign for the future that the game hasn't at all looked too fast for him like it does for so many other rookies.
I think he'll be a great Bunting replacement next season when Toronto inevitably loses him to free agency.
I think he'll be a great Bunting replacement next season when Toronto inevitably loses him to free agency.
