Matthew Knies recently secured a six-year contract extension worth $46.5 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs, setting elevated expectations for his performance. With prominent players like Auston Matthews and William Nylander in the top six, Knies is expected to take on increased responsibility after Mitch Marner‘s departure to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Knies, who previously supported the Leafs’ Core Four along with John Tavares, is now seen as a key piece expected to evolve as the team adjusts to changes in its lineup. As Tavares’ ice time is managed due to advancing age, Knies’ role must grow to fill the gap left by Marner.
Analyst Highlights Performance Targets Needed for Knies’ Contract Value
TSN analyst Frankie Corrado emphasized the importance of Knies increasing his production to justify his annual average value of $7.75 million under the new contract. According to Corrado, the promising 22-year-old forward must reach at least 60 points per season to meet expectations tied to his salary.
“There has to be more offensive upside for Matthew Knies based on how much they’re paying him. That’s a little bit of a bet on Matthew Knies going into the future. Now, he was just under 60 points last year at a guy who’s making just under $8 million.”
—Frankie Corrado, TSN analyst
“You would like to see Matthew Knies be a 60-point player, a 65-point player, and eventually a 70 to 75-point player to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth out of him. And the thing is about Matthew Knies, he’s young.”
—Frankie Corrado, TSN analyst
“He’s 22 years old, so he had a great season last year, scored 29 goals. He’s going to get even stronger. He’s going to fill out even more.”
—Frankie Corrado, TSN analyst
Knies’ performance during the 2023-24 season underscores his upward trajectory. The 2021 NHL Draft pick collected 35 points with an average ice time of just 13:41 minutes, which grew substantially as the season progressed. Last season, he tallied 58 points, including 29 goals and 29 assists, while averaging 18:31 minutes on the ice.
Leafs Rebuild Offensive Depth After Marner’s Departure
Mitch Marner’s transfer to the Vegas Golden Knights left a significant scoring gap, having contributed 102 points in the previous season. The Maple Leafs aim to distribute this production across several players, with Matthew Knies, Nicolas Roy, and Matias Macelli expected to take on larger roles. There is also potential for young forward Easton Cowan to earn an NHL promotion, further bolstering the team’s depth.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Goaltending Seen as a Position of Strength
Despite the Leafs’ disappointing playoff exit to the Florida Panthers, the goaltending duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll showed promising results throughout the season. Stolarz posted a 21-8-3 record with a .926 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.14, while Woll recorded a 27-14-1 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.73 goals-against average.
Frankie Corrado noted that although the Leafs’ goaltending setup is somewhat unconventional, both netminders provide quality minutes and offer a strong foundation if they can stay healthy.
“So this is a position of strength for Toronto. It’s not necessarily the most orthodox situation. We always think of having your workhorse number one guy and then your number two after that, but both these guys can give Toronto quality minutes in the net.”
—Frankie Corrado, TSN analyst
“And if they can stay healthy, this is really a nice position for Toronto to be in, in the goaltending situation. So, I think there’s good performances up ahead for both of these goaltenders. I have no issue with that.”
—Frankie Corrado, TSN analyst
“The big question mark becomes how long can they stay healthy for in a regular season? And can they play at that peak for a long period of time? But they’re both very capable goaltenders.”
—Frankie Corrado, TSN analyst
Combined, Stolarz and Woll’s salaries total $6.1 million, a cost-effective arrangement considering the team’s salary cap increase. This budget-friendly tandem is expected to play a crucial role in Toronto’s upcoming season.
Implications and Outlook for the Maple Leafs Moving Forward
Matthew Knies’ ability to consistently score 60 or more points will be essential for validating his substantial contract extension and for helping the Leafs fill the void left by Mitch Marner. With young players like Nicolas Roy, Matias Macelli, and Easton Cowan also stepping into expanded roles, Toronto’s offensive strategies are poised to adapt.
Meanwhile, the solid goaltending tandem of Stolarz and Woll, if maintained without injury, should provide the stability the Maple Leafs need to contend strongly in the NHL season. These factors combined will shape the team’s performance and prospects in the upcoming campaigns.