Leafs prospect Matthew Knies taking advice from Auston Matthews

As Maple Leafs improvement camp started, Fraser Minten — the Leafs’ high choose within the 2022 NHL draft — requested the just-retired Jason Spezza what he thought separated elite gamers from the remainder of the pack.
Spezza’s reply shone a lightweight — maybe unknowingly — on Matthew Knies, and why the Leafs high choose within the 2021 draft is the highest prospect at this camp and the title different GMs preserve eager to throw into commerce packages with the Leafs.
“(Spezza) stated their self-awareness was actually good, they’re at all times capable of enhance themselves and critique themselves,” stated Minten.
That in a nutshell describes Knies, a 6-foot-3 energy winger who wrestled with the concept of turning professional with the Maple Leafs in Might solely to determine to return to the College of Minnesota for a second season.
“I don’t assume I used to be able to make this step but,” stated Knies. “Off the ice, on the ice, I don’t assume I used to be mature sufficient as a participant, as an individual.
“I wish to turn out to be a two-way participant, I wish to be an entire participant, enjoying each ends. As soon as I mature myself as a participant, I believe that’s once I could make a step and provides the Leafs a lift and attempt to make them a greater crew.”
Knies was making his first look in Toronto since being taken 57th total in 2021. He missed final season’s improvement camp – held in September – as a result of college had already began. So he’s performing some catching up, shaking palms with crew president Brendan Shanahan and attending to know the help workers and just a little little bit of the town he – presumably – will name residence someday.
There’s a buzz about him and his pedigree. A Phoenix native, Knies was coached as a teenager by Shane Doan, and now performs like Doan, and will get some mentoring from fellow Arizona resident and future teammate Auston Matthews.
“I’ve a giant dimension and I’m a powerful participant, so I like to make use of that to my benefit,” stated Knies. “That’s what can assist make that subsequent step.”
Of all of the 43 gamers in camp, Knies is closest to NHL prepared, having performed within the Olympics, and he’ll get a second shot on the world juniors in August.
“He’s a giant boy,” stated assistant common supervisor Hayley Wickenheiser, who’s overseeing the camp. “He’s acquired all of the instruments. He totally is aware of the place he stands and the order of the place his profession would possibly go. So we now have no drawback being affected person with him. We sit up for simply seeing his trajectory over the course of the season. He has a protracted strategy to go, however he’s additionally already knocking on the door.”
To open that door would require him to signal a contract. There could be those that fret that Knies would possibly stay in faculty for the total 4 years, invoking a clause within the NHL’s collective bargaining settlement that might flip him into an unrestricted free agent.
Primarily based on his solutions, that appears uncertain. Others would possibly fret GM Kyle Dubas will commerce Knies – as he has different prospects – for assist in the playoffs. However Knies – subsequent season – is likely to be the assistance the crew wants within the playoffs.
Final yr, when the faculty season ended, Dubas managed to signal Nick Abruzzese (a 2019 choose) from Harvard, who performed 9 video games with the Leafs. However he couldn’t persuade Knies, who would have had the identical enjoying alternative, to surrender his faculty profession after one season.
“He (Dubas) made me really feel snug and a part of that Leafs household,” stated Knies. “I felt that they actually wanted me they usually actually needed me. I felt as if they’d my greatest curiosity in thoughts, that they needed me to turn out to be one of the best participant I can.
“In order that they left the choice as much as me. They have been actually skilled about it and actually useful.”
In the end he selected having a shot at successful a nationwide championship within the NCAA – the Gophers are stacked – over presumably touring the minor-league cities in buses with the Marlies.
“Loads of thought went into it,” stated Knies. “I talked to my household, all my mates. I had lots of people in my ear telling me what to do. I listened to them, I took everybody’s recommendation. Nevertheless it got here right down to my determination and I believed I simply wanted yet another yr to turn out to be a greater participant. I do know it’s a giant step the following season. And likewise now I’m making an attempt to make it a a lot smoother transition. I believe I’m going to develop rather a lot subsequent yr and hopefully I can be a part of on the finish of the season.”
A kind of gamers reaching out to Knies was Matthews, who grew up with Knies’ older brother Phillip.
“He was a giant affect on my recreation and somebody I at all times regarded as much as as properly,” Knies stated of Matthews. “He additionally reached out to me and is somebody I actually want to hearken to and take recommendation from. He has been actual useful.
“He stated simply be affected person. Ensure you’re prepared for the bounce. I do know he made it instantly, however there’s not many guys like Auston. (He stated) be affected person, work in your abilities and assist your self. Ensure you’re able to make the following step, as a result of it’s undoubtedly a giant one.”