The Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling to finalize a contract with Matthew Knies, one of their promising young forwards drafted in 2021. As Knies approaches restricted free agency, the team faces a critical decision on how to secure his future while navigating salary cap and term-length issues.
Knies holds restricted free agent status, meaning he can negotiate with other NHL teams, but Toronto retains the right to match any offer. However, the Leafs want to agree on their own terms first. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the main obstacle remains the length of the contract, which both sides have yet to settle.
“My understanding is they cannot come to an agreement on term … and it’s impossible to even get close to a framework of a deal without first narrowing in on a term length that’s acceptable for both parties … If I were to say 3 by $7 million, does that sound reasonable?”
— Frank Seravalli, NHL Insider
The Leafs recently re-signed veteran John Tavares to a cap-friendly deal, leaving room to negotiate with Knies. With star forward Mitch Marner likely departing in free agency, Knies is expected to take on a larger role. Yet if the sides can’t find common ground on contract length, discussions could stall—often shorter contracts come with higher average annual values (AAV), whereas longer deals tend to have lower yearly salaries to balance the term.
How Former NHL Analyst Suggests Resolving Knies’ Contract Issue
Paul Bissonnette, a former NHL player and current analyst, has shared his opinion on how the Maple Leafs could finalize a deal with Knies. A devoted fan of the team, Bissonnette encourages them to act swiftly to avoid complications.
“I would be okay to get it over and done with, that if they just locked Knies in and gave him like a quote-unquote bridge at a five-year, $8.5 million deal.”
— Paul Bissonnette, Former NHL Player and Analyst
Bissonnette explained the urgency by pointing out that if Knies reaches July 1st without a deal, other teams might offer him a long-term contract valued around $10 to $10.5 million annually. Toronto could then be forced to match such an offer, which would likely put enormous pressure on the salary cap and create a situation similar to what they faced with Marner.
“Because my understanding, if he does get to July 1st, that someone’s probably going to offer him that eight-year, $10–10.5 million and then Toronto is going to be forced to match and then voila – all of a sudden we have our new Mitch Marner.”
— Paul Bissonnette, Former NHL Player and Analyst
With Marner almost certain to leave, Knies is poised to fill the void and become a key figure for Toronto moving forward.
Negotiation Challenges and What They Mean for Toronto’s Future
The ongoing contract impasse highlights the delicate balancing act Toronto must perform between managing salary cap constraints and securing emerging talent. If Knies signs a shorter contract with a higher annual salary, it could offer flexibility but at a cost. Meanwhile, a longer deal with smaller yearly payments may not satisfy the player’s expectations or market value.
The Maple Leafs’ ability to resolve this deadlock is crucial, as losing Knies could significantly weaken their forward lineup after Marner’s departure. Successfully locking him into a reasonable contract would not only preserve depth but would also demonstrate smart asset management during a transitional period for the team.
As negotiations continue, all eyes will remain on the Maple Leafs front office and Matthew Knies to see if they can overcome these hurdles before restricted free agency progresses further. The outcome will likely shape Toronto’s competitive outlook in the coming seasons.