Matthew Knies needs a new contract, this much is obvious. However, one analyst believes that it needs to be done soon, or the Maple Leafs could lose out on him.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a superstar on their hands with Matthew Knies, and after et another brilliant season, the team needs to lock him up long-term; but can the team get it done?
Knies has made it clear he wants to stay but he also doesn't want any distractions going into the playoffs, so Toronto needs to tread lightly.
However, one NHL analyst believes if they don't become proactive about the situation; they could lose him for good.
Matthew Knies' Next Deal Could Hit $9M: Jason Bukala
For analyst Jason Bukala, he believes that Matthew Knies is so special that the Maple Leafs could end up being offer-sheeted and the amount might be quite a staggering pay day:
I think with the cap, you look at Tkachuk and Wilson' cap hit at the time, it can easily surpass that. If I'm his agent, They might if I want a five-year instead of an eight, but Toronto wants an eight. It really could go to $9M. It really could.You need to look at what he's done, at 22, he's a unicorn. For prospects coming in, he's a unicorn, and certainly is for the Maple Leafs. I felt like people get caught up with Mitch Marner and don't see how you can't sign Knies first and see what's leftover to do your business.
Look what happened with Broberg and Holloway. But if I am in a meeting, I have that as my presentation. Look, he's going to get offer sheeted. They need to get it done.
Knies is one of only three players with 25+ goals and 150 hits this season, joining Tom Wilson and Brady Tkachuk, and with both players earning big deals, Knies has to be next up.
The fact it's a $9M potential deal is wild, but if Knies' camp wants to go with the short term route, it's not unfeasible to pay a potential superstar $45M for the next five years, then when the cap is at its peak, can sign him to a mega-deal.
This season, Knies has 45 points in 65 games (20G, 25A) but also has those aforementioned 150+ hits (155), as well as 34 blocks in 18:30 TOI; a near five minute increase from last season.
It's going to cost a pretty penny to keep Knies around, but it's not too often you see a player of his caliber come in and take the league by storm. Mitch Marner may have the best potential now, but the future can be even brighter for the young power forward.
Which means that superstardom is going to come at a big price.
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