'It's The Best Chance For Me To Win': Matthew Knies Addresses Short-Term Future With Maple Leafs

Mar 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies (23) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Matthew Knies wants to be a part of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the long haul.

After another disappointing conclusion to the season, the 22-year-old enters the summer as a restricted free agent. Knies had a career year in the regular season and playoffs, scoring 29 goals and 29 assists through 78 games before having five goals and two assists in the postseason.

It's the first time, aside from his entry-level deal, where Knies will have a say in how much money he makes entering next season, and beyond. On Tuesday, during the team's locker cleanout day, the forward conceded he hasn't given much thought to the specifics of his next deal.

On the financial, or the term side.

"We ended like two days ago. I haven't, like, really thought about any of that," Knies said. "We'll see what it comes down to. I honestly don't have a good answer for you."

In previous years, there have been NHL teams that have poached restricted free agents using offer sheets. We saw the St. Louis Blues do it with former Edmonton Oilers Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg last summer.

Before that, the Carolina Hurricanes successfully offer sheeted Jesperi Kotkaniemi from the Montreal Canadiens, two years after Montreal attempted to do the same with Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho.

Carolina matched Montreal's offer and Aho remained a Hurricane.

For a team to successfully offer sheet a player, the player needs to agree to the contract. And while there have been reports of teams possibly attempting to do that with Knies, the young forward made it clear that there isn't an intention to go down that route.

"I want to be here. I want to play here. That's all that really matters to me."

Even when Knies was asked if he'd use an offer sheet to drive his price tag up, the forward reiterated his unwillingness to go there: "I mean, just the way I answered the last question: I want to be here. I want to play here. That's all that matters to me."

The forward suffered an apparent injury in Game 6 against the Florida Panthers after an awkward collision with defenseman Niko Mikkola. He toughed out the game but was visibly in pain throughout their win in Florida.

Questions followed about whether Knies would be healthy enough to play in Game 7 at home in front of Maple Leafs fans. But as Toronto walked out for the biggest game of this era of Maple Leafs, Knies was there, trekking out with them.

"I was going to play no matter what," he said.

It'll be an eventful offseason for Toronto, with the negotiations of Knies and John Tavares at the forefront. The 2021 second-round pick says this city is all he's ever known, and he's not willing to give up the opportunity to win with this team just yet.

"I love this group. I love everyone in this locker room. I think it's the most professional team I've ever been a part of," Knies said of why he wants to remain in Toronto. "I think there's really a chance to win here. I think that there's the guys in this room to win, and that's why. I think it's the best chance for me to win."