LW Matthew Knies - Tri-City Storm, USHL (2021, 57th, TOR)

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You know what else is hilarious and very annoying, being a Leaf fan and having fellow Leaf fans constantly act like I'm a Leaf hater for not saying "Oh wow another unbelievable flawless prospect that is perfect for Toronto and Torontos development staff has a secret formula"

I am a Leaf fan and I think the hype is out of control and he would be better served in college.

yes you've noted multiple times in a very short span that you're a Leafs fan. That actually doesn't make your opinions any more or less valid. Despite that you seem to be wielding it like a trump card while concocting some strawman about the rest of the fanbase claiming he's a flawless prospect.
 
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I get Jamie Benn vibes from him tbh, but a slight bit more of an edge. If he meshes well with either Matthews or Tavares, we got a gem on our hands. I would personally love for him to join the Marlies after his run (although I am not well versed in how long the AHL season will be) and then see if he's ready to join the Leafs out of camp next year.
 
How is him joining the Leafs this season going to ruin his career?

Most people on this site are delirious.


The #1 reason why prospects aren't NHL ready from college/junior is because of their size/frame, and, there is a risk of injury.
This isn't an issue with Knies, he's 6'3, 230lbs.


I bet Dubas gives Knies 4-8 games in the regular season to see if he can handle the pros. If he can keep up with the NHL pace, than we've got ourselves a gem and a post-deadline acquisition.

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Mikheyev
Nylander - Kampf - Engvall
Kase - Kerfoot - Spezza
 
How is him joining the Leafs this season going to ruin his career?

Most people on this site are delirious.


The #1 reason why prospects aren't NHL ready from college/junior is because of their size/frame, and, there is a risk of injury.
This isn't an issue with Knies, he's 6'3, 230lbs.


I bet Dubas gives Knies 4-8 games in the regular season to see if he can handle the pros. If he can keep up with the NHL pace, than we've got ourselves a gem and a post-deadline acquisition.

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Mikheyev
Nylander - Kampf - Engvall
Kase - Kerfoot - Spezza
If he gets 4-8 games, well even he gets 1 game, he cant go back to college, he could go to the Marlies, if he’s not ready and plays 1 game.
 
yes you've noted multiple times in a very short span that you're a Leafs fan. That actually doesn't make your opinions any more or less valid. Despite that you seem to be wielding it like a trump card while concocting some strawman about the rest of the fanbase claiming he's a flawless prospect.

Why quote me if you're only going to put words in my mouth? I literally went out of my way to say it wasn't the entire fanbase and I only said I was a Leaf fan because someone was implying I was anti-leafs.

It's actually bizarre to me that there are people trying to act like there is no such thing as Knies hype. Of all the points to try to make right now, that might be the only one that can be proven outright wrong.
 
If he gets 4-8 games, well even he gets 1 game, he cant go back to college, he could go to the Marlies, if he’s not ready and plays 1 game.
He doesn’t have to play any games. Once he signs a contract he can’t go back. I think the AHL/NHL path is the best for him at this point, he needs to be playing against the best competition he can be.
 
How is him joining the Leafs this season going to ruin his career?

Most people on this site are delirious.


The #1 reason why prospects aren't NHL ready from college/junior is because of their size/frame, and, there is a risk of injury.
This isn't an issue with Knies, he's 6'3, 230lbs.


I bet Dubas gives Knies 4-8 games in the regular season to see if he can handle the pros. If he can keep up with the NHL pace, than we've got ourselves a gem and a post-deadline acquisition.

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Mikheyev
Nylander - Kampf - Engvall
Kase - Kerfoot - Spezza

It's funny, you're saying most people on this site are delirious but you don't even seem to know what you're suggesting here.

Your #1 reason for why prospects aren't NHL ready is a total misunderstanding of why prospects bust. Just look at guys like:

Michael Rasmussen
Kaapo Kakko
Brett Connolly
Lawson Crouse
Tage Thompson
Quinton Byfield
Jordan Caron
Nick Ritchie
Jesse Puljujarvi
Pavel Zacha

These are all 6'3" 200lbs+ fwds that made the jump in their D+2 season and I only went back to 2010. Size had nothing to do with their struggles to maintain NHL success early in their NHL careers. Some have carved out a role higher in the lineup but top 6 roles from day 1 at that age is unbelievably rare.

If you look at the 6'3" 200lbs+ D+2 players to play in the NHL since 2010 that had immediate success, you're talking about guys like Matthews, Laine, Dubois, Barkov, Rantanen.

If you think Knies is Tom Wilson 2.0, Wilson played 8mins a night in his rookie season. He played 4th line minutes for 4 years. If you look up unicorn in the dictionary, Tom Wilsons picture is there.

What you're suggesting Knies will do (play top 6 minutes immediately) is an unbelievably high expectation. And if you can't point to an example of someone else doing what you're suggesting your prospect will do, imo it's overhype.
 
Also depends on if he wants to go. Maybe he liked his freshman year and doesn't want a job quite yet.
Yup. Maybe he wins the frozen four and decides he's happy with that and wants to get paid. Maybe he loses in the finals, gets a bitter taste, and wants to go back and build on his year.

Either way, all the "uprooting" talk from some posters make it seem like he's going to be dragged from city to city and thrown to the wolves in Toronto. Except the reality is hes either on the Marlies (In Toronto) or the Leafs (also happen to be in Toronto). It would actually be less uprooting and more putting in the foundation of his new roots to have him in Toronto, playing with the organization's direct control over his development in either AHL or NHL and growing his relationships with his teammates, training staff and coaches.

Gives him a chance to get comfortable sooner in a place he's going to, hopefully, spend a majority of his career.
 
yes you've noted multiple times in a very short span that you're a Leafs fan. That actually doesn't make your opinions any more or less valid. Despite that you seem to be wielding it like a trump card while concocting some strawman about the rest of the fanbase claiming he's a flawless prospect.
Listen, as a leafs fans myself let me elaborate on what he was trying to say as a leafs fan.

We leafs fans are fans of the leafs and therefore know leafs fans as well as any leafs fan.

Damn Leafs fans. RUINED LEAFLAND.
 
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I was trying to get some insights into the Buff prospects.
Ryan Wheeler who is one of the main guys for The Athletic needs to chill on Matty Knies
Calling it one of the more impressive freshman seasons he's seen in a awhile. For a guy who is the supposed prospect guy for his firm he may want to temper expectations just a smidge. Or maybe he is just higher on him than most.
 
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I'm a Leaf fan who is very excited for Knies but even I know we need to pump the breaks here. Let's be honest, there is a sizeable demand from Leaf fans and the Leaf board for anyone with size. To the point where it's gotten a bit out of control. Anyone signed/drafted under 6 feet 190 and there is a collective wah from about 80% of the fanbase. Wouldn't be shocked if many of them would prefer Shaq on skates over a guy like Ty Voit.

So then here we have Knies, has the size but also has the skill. I'm not surprised at why our board is salivating. If he's ready, he's ready so bring him over. But don't f*** with his development cause big man big.
 
Nothing wrong with Leaf fans being excited about the kid, we just need to not project to far into the future. If knies comes over he should get a few games to see how he fits, if he has a tough time he goes to the Ahl. Don't know what the best path for development is but the leafs organization has done a nice job with prospects in the past so I'm not worried.
 
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I'm a Leaf fan who is very excited for Knies but even I know we need to pump the breaks here. Let's be honest, there is a sizeable demand from Leaf fans and the Leaf board for anyone with size. To the point where it's gotten a bit out of control. Anyone signed/drafted under 6 feet 190 and there is a collective wah from about 80% of the fanbase. Wouldn't be shocked if many of them would prefer Shaq on skates over a guy like Ty Voit.

So then here we have Knies, has the size but also has the skill. I'm not surprised at why our board is salivating. If he's ready, he's ready so bring him over. But don't f*** with his development cause big man big.

I'd take Shaq on skates any day.. and it would be foolish to turn down the hockey version of the NBA legend.
 
Nothing wrong with Leaf fans being excited about the kid, we just need to not project to far into the future. If knies comes over he should get a few games to see how he fits, if he has a tough time he goes to the Ahl. Don't know what the best path for development is but the leafs organization has done a nice job with prospects in the past so I'm not worried.
Robertson should be brought up before Knies gets any games.
 
I think expectations are that he comes in late in the season, gets a few games in to burn off his first year ELC, then plays with the Marlies in the playoffs, and develops there for the next couple years. If he somehow sticks on the roster great, but I don't think that's at all the expectation.
 
I know everyone says pump the breaks on every leafs prospect but this guy looks like Auston Matthews when he played for Zurich every time I see him play only difference is he loves to hit.
Potential is too high to sleep on.
 
I think expectations are that he comes in late in the season, gets a few games in to burn off his first year ELC, then plays with the Marlies in the playoffs, and develops there for the next couple years. If he somehow sticks on the roster great, but I don't think that's at all the expectation.
I am not sure, but my understanding is that he would be ineligible for the AHL playoffs if he plays any NHL games this season. It was the same for Harris with Montreal, if he went to the AHL he would be eligible but since he played NHL games he is not. He could play regular season AHL games and be with the Leafs for the playoffs however as a black ace.
 
His primary focus is his current team. But the rumour is he wants to take the next step. I can see him signing and getting a few games to close out the season. Being around the NHL playoff atmosphere will only help a young player. Even if he’s not ready for the NHL next season, he would be an excellent fit on the Marlies.
 
I am not sure, but my understanding is that he would be ineligible for the AHL playoffs if he plays any NHL games this season. It was the same for Harris with Montreal, if he went to the AHL he would be eligible but since he played NHL games he is not. He could play regular season AHL games and be with the Leafs for the playoffs however as a black ace.

I am not aware of any rule like that. Not saying there isn't just never heard of it before.

I am very confident the Leafs management is aware of all the rules and impacts. I am also they will make the right choices in this matter. (sometimes the best think for the Leafs and an individual player are not the same is the only cavate)
 
I am not aware of any rule like that. Not saying there isn't just never heard of it before.

I am very confident the Leafs management is aware of all the rules and impacts. I am also they will make the right choices in this matter. (sometimes the best think for the Leafs and an individual player are not the same is the only cavate)
After a bit of research, it appears that in order for an NHL player to be eligible for the AHL playoffs, they had to be on the AHL roster on trade deadline day, that is why so many NHL players were demoted and immediately recalled on that day. If they are signed and go direct to the AHL they are exempt from this rule and can participate. In most cases the team will need to let them burn the year on the contract to get the player to sign, so AHL playoffs are out of the question.
 

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