Matthew Knies nominated for the Hobey Baker Award

[Thornbury]

Call me crazy, but I'd throw him right into the top 6. Assuming he makes the National Championship (April 8th), he could still theoretically have 3 regular season games with the Leafs on April 10th, 11th, and 13th.

Come playoff time and Tampa being the likely 1st round opponent, I think you have to try and distribute the wealth from a scoring perspective. Put him with Tavares & Marner. Get ROR on a 3rd line with Jarnkrok, and hopefully another deadline addition.

Let the 4th line be some combination of Kampf, Engvall, Kerfoot, Acciari and/or Aston Reese. Knies shouldn't be out there solely to hit, and create some energy. He should be out there helping control the puck.

I could envision the playoff line up as;
Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O'Reilly - Jarnrok
ZAR - Acciari - Engvall

That is not a small forward group.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

2023 Frozen Four takes place April 6-8 in Tampa (ironically enough). Toronto's schedule after this point is:

• Apr. 10 @ Florida
• Apr. 11 @ Tampa Bay
• Apr. 13 vs. NY Rangers

Christ so if he and the Gophers go the distance there’d only be three games for him to get in and acclimated.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Christ so if he and the Gophers go the distance there’d only be three games for him to get in and acclimated.

Basically you're throwing him in those games to see if you could catch lightning in a bottle for the playoffs.

Put on on a line with Acciari and ZAR, and let them help set the tempo.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I could envision the playoff line up as;
Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O'Reilly - Jarnrok
ZAR - Acciari - Engvall

That is not a small forward group.

I would think Kampf is going to be in the playoff lineup long before ZAR.

 

[123offtheglass]

I could envision the playoff line up as;
Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O'Reilly - Jarnrok
ZAR - Acciari - Engvall

That is not a small forward group.

I would think Kampf is going to be in the playoff lineup long before ZAR.

Yup. Just burry Engvall - Kampf - Acciari with d-zone starts, Kampf takes left draws & Acciari takes right draws, Engvall is a beast with zone exits & entries as well.

 

[rojac]

I'm noit even going to think about line combos until after the deadline.

 

[kb]

Knies ended the last 10 games of the regular season with 8 G and 15 P, along with a +13.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Not bad

 

[Nhlpowerweek]

Knies ended the last 10 games of the regular season with 8 G and 15 P, along with a +13.

So he is coming to us in 2 weeks no?

 

[aingefan]

2023 Frozen Four takes place April 6-8 in Tampa (ironically enough). Toronto's schedule after this point is:

• Apr. 10 @ Florida
• Apr. 11 @ Tampa Bay
• Apr. 13 vs. NY Rangers

That’s convenient. The team can send a limo to pick him up rather than a plane.

 

[horner]

I could envision the playoff line up as;
Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O'Reilly - Jarnrok
ZAR - Acciari - Engvall

That is not a small forward group.

Would like a player to replace Kerfoot

We also have McMann, Holmberg and Steve's

Another rugged defensive dman would be nice.

 

[horner]

So he is coming to us in 2 weeks no?

6 weeks
April 8

 

[DopeyFish]

So he is coming to us in 2 weeks no?

they got their own playoffs to go through which can go through as far as april 8th

 

[ULF_55]

they got their own playoffs to go through which can go through as far as april 8th

So we're all wishing him good luck.

Or are we being selfish?

Sorry, I'm a Leafs fans before anything else in sport.

Wish them all the health in the world.

 

[The Masters]

Isn't it tough for a kid to come in and go straight to playoff hockey against one of the best teams in the league? Is this a normal thing? Generally asking ..

I only worry about defensive mistakes in close games vs TB

 

[DopeyFish]

Isn't it tough for a kid to come in and go straight to playoff hockey against one of the best teams in the league? Is this a normal thing? Generally asking ..

I only worry about defensive mistakes in close games vs TB

Knies isn't exactly a kid, he's 20 years old playing in a mens league, not playing in junior

plus he's 6'3 and 210 lbs so basically the same size as Matthews

 

[Judas Tavares]

If Knies comes in on the 3rd or 4th line and has a similar or slightly better contribution than McMann did, I'd be very happy. Any points would be gravy. Is that expecting too little? Or would that level of contribution not warrant a spot in the lineup?

 

[BayStBullies]

Would like a player to replace Kerfoot

We also have McMann, Holmberg and Steve's

Another rugged defensive dman would be nice.

I think Engvall should go before Kerfoot. Most here like to overlook it, but Kerfoot is good in the playoffs. Engvall has no physical presence and seems to face a forcefield that presents him from using his size to advance towards the net; constantly heading back to the neutral zone or his own zone. He doesn't play a style of game that transitions into playoff success.

 

[The Masters]

Knies isn't exactly a kid, he's 20 years old playing in a mens league, not playing in junior

plus he's 6'3 and 210 lbs so basically the same size as Matthews

Where would he go? 4th line?

 

[DopeyFish]

Where would he go? 4th line?

3rd with ROR is the most probable place for him imo

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[kb]

If Knies comes in on the 3rd or 4th line and has a similar or slightly better contribution than McMann did, I'd be very happy. Any points would be gravy. Is that expecting too little? Or would that level of contribution not warrant a spot in the lineup?

That's exactly where the expectations should be IMO coming in this late in the season. Regular shift, be hard on the forecheck and backcheck, stay in your lanes, and any offense generated is a bonus.

 

[Menzinger]

So we're all wishing him good luck.

Or are we being selfish?

Sorry, I'm a Leafs fans before anything else in sport.

Wish them all the health in the world.

I'm a Gophers fan, so obviously biased to a degree, but imo have him be a top player on the their team through the playoffs, win it all, and then take that confidence and attitude with him right to the Leafs

 

[Notsince67]

Basically you're throwing him in those games to see if you could catch lightning in a bottle for the playoffs.

Put on on a line with Acciari and ZAR, and let them help set the tempo.

He is a strapping lad who is almost d+1 old. He is conditioned and healthy. Time to see what he has

 

[Rielly4]

I think he needs an offensive line. Dont play Knies with Kampf. Im ok with Accirari I guess. Knies with Acciari and Jarnkrok/Kerfoot is probably what we are looking at. The idea of ROR with him is nice but I dont like Jarnkrok or kerfoot in the top 6.