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

[Akrapovince]

Personally I’d be surprised. The list of players that make an immediate impact is not a long one.

I posted this earlier, I don’t follow NCAA prospects religiously, but isn’t the track record for NCAA prospects stepping in after their season to a playoff team a relatively good one?

 

[Martin Skoula]

I posted this earlier, I don’t follow NCAA prospects religiously, but isn’t the track record for NCAA prospects stepping in after their season to a playoff team a relatively good one?

McAvoy stepped in to a much more complicated and demanding job and did well, Knies is going to have a much simpler job that’s easier to do well at. I don’t see why he wouldn’t do well in sheltered minutes digging for pucks and playing in front of the net, he won’t be expected to carry the play.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He's not going to lead Toronto in playoff scoring, but I do believe that he'll contribute quite well.

 

[jfhabs]

He's not going to lead Toronto in playoff scoring, but I do believe that he'll contribute quite well.

It will be a short sample size, it's possible!

 

[Amadeus]

I project his ceiling as an Alex Tuch and his floor as William Carrier.

He's going to be a valuable piece regardless for Toronto which is solid from the end of the 2nd round.

 

[Smif]

Because the Leafs were literally 1 win away from winning a playoff round 5 years in a row. Having a 2nd line power forward (on an ELC/cheap 2nd contract) winger in the lineup would have been the difference in some if not all of those series.

He'd be too expensive to re-sign and not on his sub 1M contract that he's about to be signed too.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I project his ceiling as an Alex Tuch and his floor as William Carrier.

He's going to be a valuable piece regardless for Toronto which is solid from the end of the 2nd round.

Truly bizarre comparisons imo.

 

[HockeyVirus]

"Knies is the 3rd best player on his line! He's only a physical, clutch, compliment piece."

*Leaf fans stare at Matthews and Marner*

Seriously we don't need him to be a star. If he becomes a 60 point player some day with the style he plays and his tools, that will make one hell of a line.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Stop comparing Connor and Knies wins

The big 10 was dog shit when Kyle Connor won.
They were 1-18 against the NCHC to show you how terrible the big 10 was as a whole
They had a losing record against the WCHA for crying out loud
4th worst winning percentage as a conference

Not even comparable in the slightest.
Connor's stats were weak outside of conference
hence the reason they made the tournament and got stomped by Brock Boeser and Nick Schmaltz in relative quick order

1. Nobody is comparing Connor to Knies, the point is that in order to win a Player of the Year Award, a freshman typically has to significantly outperform the competition
2. Agreed that the big 10 was awful that year

People need to remember that they're only focusing on conference play for awards like this. Fantillis big lead in points comes from non-conference play.

This is the top 5 scorers among Big 10 conference + conference tournament games:

Hard to see the argument for Knies there

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

"Knies is the 3rd best player on his line! He's only a physical, clutch, compliment piece."

*Leaf fans stare at Matthews and Marner*

Seriously we don't need him to be a star. If he becomes a 60 point player some day with the style he plays and his tools, that will make one hell of a line.

I'd be ecstatic if Knies was a Devils prospect. Kid has terrific hands, a killer release, and plays with an edge.

He's TJ Oshie 2.0. And he's exactly the type of player the Leafs need. Leaf fans have every reason to be excited about adding him to their playoff run. He could legitimately be the difference between another first round exit and a deep run.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I'd be ecstatic if Knies was a Devils prospect. Kid has terrific hands, a killer release, and plays with an edge.

He's TJ Oshie 2.0. And he's exactly the type of player the Leafs need. Leaf fans have every reason to be excited about adding him to their playoff run. He could legitimately be the difference between another first round exit and a deep run.

Maybe not this year, but we have needed a player like this for a while and at least you get why we are excited beyond "durr Leaf fans think he is Crosby". Nah we just love that style of player, every single one has become a fan favorite in Toronto

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Maybe not this year, but we have needed a player like this for a while and at least you get why we are excited beyond "durr Leaf fans think he is Crosby". Nah we just love that style of player, every single one has become a fan favorite in Toronto

I don't see any reason why he couldn't be an impact player right off the bat. He's ready.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Coaches seem to like Knies better than the people in this thread, that's for sure.

I think he pulls a Kreider and sticks for the playoffs. His competition is Zach Aston-Reese, David "7 goals" Kampf, Alex Kerfoot and some AHL players who are ready to graduate. Depth scoring has been this Leaf era's achillies heal for years due to the heavy top 4 contracts.

If he can develop into a 20g forward with some attitude over the next 5 years, he's a perfect fit.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I don't see any reason why he couldn't be an impact player right off the bat. He's ready.

Mainly our market and franchise expectations. We gave up Sandin for the more experienced option. Keefe last year sat Liljegren who was by FAR the better player for Holl again for experience. We need to win this year or jobs are lost and players are dealt.

I don't think he will get a real chance to show what he can do until next year. And even if he comes in and impresses, I still could see him being scratched because Keefe wants to avoid inexperienced mistakes after how far the team has come in bad moments.

Not that I agree with it, but this has been how the team has operated for at least 2 years.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Coaches seem to like Knies better than the people in this thread, that's for sure.

I think he pulls a Kreider and sticks for the playoffs. His competition is Zach Aston-Reese, David "7 goals" Kampf, Alex Kerfoot and some AHL players who are ready to graduate. Depth scoring has been this Leaf era's achillies heal for years due to the heavy top 4 contracts.

If he can develop into a 20g forward with some attitude over the next 5 years, he's a perfect fit.

Kampf is a fairly important player . Especially if they plan on going w O Reilly in the top 6 rather than the 3 rd line matchup centre spot . Agree on the others though I liked Kerfoots playoffs apart from the egregious drop pass to nowhere that led to a crippling goal .

 

[leafsfan2point0]

He’s definitely a style of player we’ve been missing. Hopefully he has a strong finish and is able to join the leafs on a high.

He kind of reminds me of a meaner JVR. If he can be something like that in the future, it would be huge complimentary piece to the forwards we have already have.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Mainly our market and franchise expectations. We gave up Sandin for the more experienced option. Keefe last year sat Liljegren who was by FAR the better player for Holl again for experience. We need to win this year or jobs are lost and players are dealt.

I don't think he will get a real chance to show what he can do until next year. And even if he comes in and impresses, I still could see him being scratched because Keefe wants to avoid inexperienced mistakes after how far the team has come in bad moments.

Not that I agree with it, but this has been how the team has operated for at least 2 years.

I mean we are deep on defense and honestly extremely weak on LW. It isn't an apples to apples comparison. If he signs he is going to get a look and if he can hang then he will be playing. What that role is? Who knows, I feel like the most likely scenario is him on O'Riellys wing on the 3rd line but we will see.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

IMO Fantilli should win the Hobey, especially if he leads them to a win Saturday.

Fantilli
Knies/Faber
Farrell

IMO, one of those.

Could I get your opinion on another Minn Leafs prospect in Mike Koster? Seems to be having a strong season, but I don't know much about his game outside of seeing 1 or 2 games last year. Does he have any NHL potential or is he more likely an AHL/Europe case post college?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Mainly our market and franchise expectations. We gave up Sandin for the more experienced option. Keefe last year sat Liljegren who was by FAR the better player for Holl again for experience. We need to win this year or jobs are lost and players are dealt.

I don't think he will get a real chance to show what he can do until next year. And even if he comes in and impresses, I still could see him being scratched because Keefe wants to avoid inexperienced mistakes after how far the team has come in bad moments.

Not that I agree with it, but this has been how the team has operated for at least 2 years.

This kid is a gamer. If it were me I would just throw him into game action and let him do his thing, and put some pressure on some of the depth guys to fight for their spots.

Bunting - Matthews - Nylander
Knies - Tavares - Marner
O'Reilly - Kampf - Acciari
Kerfoot - Lafferty - Jarnkrok
ZAR

Knies could add some much needed punch to the Tavares / Marner pairing. This also allows you to push O'Reilly down into a more traditional checking role, so he can focus on doing his thing and shut down Kucherov. That would be a very difficult 3rd line to play against.

If he struggles after a few games move him down the lineup.

 

[DollardStLaurent]

I didn't want to argue again in this thread but since you mentioned Othmann I'll make an exception. Watching him back in Switzerland I said that he's very much a project and gonna need lots of time but if he gets it all together he could be the real deal and potentially the best forward of his draft year. So far so good. Granted, this season he's been very underwhelming but until this season he was way ahead of schedule.

Knies does exactly nothing better than Othmann besides being bigger and more mature. A certain lack of the latter I think is why he had a long cold streak in Switzerland and why he's struggling this season. I think he just has zero motivation to play another CHL season. Having outplayed that league last season and after a very strong NHL camp and preseason (despite health issues) I think he wanted, maybe expected to make the Rangers team. When that didn't happen he switched off mentally. That's my theory at least. He is totally crazy about hockey, practicing like mad and and he expects way too much of himself. Him not achieving his goals leads to the mental breakdowns we've seen in Switzerland and now.

For him to turn into a successful hockey pro he'll have to eventually grow up but if that happens I think he could turn out to be a great player with the best case scenario being Brad Marchand 2.0 minus the dirty stuff. But Othmann does have all the tools, he just has to learn how to use them. Great skating, great hands and lethal shots. And he's the ultimate pest already. He's driving opponents crazy wherever he goes. He likes to finish his hits, he won't ever shut up and he loves fighting. He has to cut down on his own penalties since some of them are really stupid but he still mostly draws more penalties thank he takes.

I'd take Othmann over Knies every day of the week just because the upside is much higher but I can also understand people not liking Othmann because of his shenanigans. Personally I think they're very fixable but only time will tell.

Sounds a lot like Kravtsov. Look at how that turned out for the Rangers.

 

[ToDavid]

Anyways, now that I got that little bit of toxicity out of my system, here's a little highlight package:



Notice how many goals are in a tied game or a game where they are down 1? He's got that clutch gene.

Lead the conference in game winning goals.

 

[Peasy]

I didn't want to argue again in this thread but since you mentioned Othmann I'll make an exception. Watching him back in Switzerland I said that he's very much a project and gonna need lots of time but if he gets it all together he could be the real deal and potentially the best forward of his draft year. So far so good. Granted, this season he's been very underwhelming but until this season he was way ahead of schedule.

Knies does exactly nothing better than Othmann besides being bigger and more mature. A certain lack of the latter I think is why he had a long cold streak in Switzerland and why he's struggling this season. I think he just has zero motivation to play another CHL season. Having outplayed that league last season and after a very strong NHL camp and preseason (despite health issues) I think he wanted, maybe expected to make the Rangers team. When that didn't happen he switched off mentally. That's my theory at least. He is totally crazy about hockey, practicing like mad and and he expects way too much of himself. Him not achieving his goals leads to the mental breakdowns we've seen in Switzerland and now.

For him to turn into a successful hockey pro he'll have to eventually grow up but if that happens I think he could turn out to be a great player with the best case scenario being Brad Marchand 2.0 minus the dirty stuff. But Othmann does have all the tools, he just has to learn how to use them. Great skating, great hands and lethal shots. And he's the ultimate pest already. He's driving opponents crazy wherever he goes. He likes to finish his hits, he won't ever shut up and he loves fighting. He has to cut down on his own penalties since some of them are really stupid but he still mostly draws more penalties thank he takes.

I'd take Othmann over Knies every day of the week just because the upside is much higher but I can also understand people not liking Othmann because of his shenanigans. Personally I think they're very fixable but only time will tell.

Man I didn't even bother to read this post until someone just quoted it.

Youre harping on Leaf fans for over hyping Knies, and saying that Abdelkader is too high of a bar for him, yet you have no problem and see no issue with comparing Othmann to Brad Marchand??????????????????????????????

Bruh. I have no words. Yes, Othmann is going to turn into a 2 way 100 point winger in his prime. Definitely. But im the crazy one for sayin Knies can become a 30-30 type of player.

 

[jfhabs]

Lead the conference in game winning goals.

He's a good player. The best player on his line is definitely Cooley tho.
Good news for him, his likely going to play with Marner, Matthews or Tavares in the near future.
He should be 50 - 60 pts guy in the NHL if playing with such players.

 

[Albz]

You all think he will be called up and play this year wit leafs?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

You all think he will be called up and play this year wit leafs?

Yes