The 21-year-old is entering the final year of his entry-level contract, becoming a restricted free agent (RFA) at the end of the season.
Before appearing in the NHL, Matthew Knies had long been regarded as one of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top prospects. He made his debut in the 2022-23 season but didn’t play for the duration of an NHL season until the 2023-24 campaign, where he played primarily in the top-six and was most effective on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Now, as the 2024-25 regular season approaches, Knies enters the final year of his entry-level contract (ELC), with restricted free agency (RFA) awaiting him at the season’s end.
As Knies quickly establishes himself as a potential long-term cornerstone piece for the franchise, speculation surrounding a contract extension has already begun. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the Leafs may be laying the groundwork for a deal with the promising 21-year-old, ensuring he remains a key part of their future.
During Monday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, co-host Kyle Bukauskas noted Knies’ unexpected leadership role in Saturday’s preseason game, which sparked a conversation about his future with the team alongside Friedman. “The fact that he was wearing an ‘A’ Saturday night caught your eye?” Bukauskas asked.
“Yes, that did catch my eye and I’m wondering if they’re going to sign him,” Friedman said. “I think (Matthew) Knies is on the precipice of being a really long-term important piece of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s heading into the last year of his ELC and I think there have been some conversations about it. I don’t know how much or in-depth they have really talked about it, but there have been some rumors that there have been some conversations.”
The choice to give Knies the alternate captaincy in the preseason suggests the Leafs see him as more than just a sophomore; they envision him as a key piece of the franchise’s future and it speaks volumes. Friedman emphasized the significance of that decision: “Watching him with the ‘A’ on Saturday night, there weren’t a lot of people they could have given it to, but they gave it to him and that says a lot about how they see him."
Knies, a former second-round pick (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, has begun to emerge as one of Toronto’s promising young forwards. In the 2023-24 season, he recorded 15 goals, 20 assists, and 35 points in the regular season. In the postseason, he scored two goals, one that pushed the series to a sixth game, and added an assist. He impressed in that opening-round series against the Boston Bruins, making key plays in the clutch and using his physical presence to his advantage.
It’s easy to understand why the organization is reportedly considering locking him in for the long term, and Friedman agreed, judging by his rule of thumb: “You know my rule, if you have a cornerstone player that’s 21 years old, then you go out, you sign them for as long as you can because the price never goes down.”
Knies was asked about his contract situation on September 20 during the early stages of training camp, where he was asked if there were any preliminary talks about an extension. He responded saying, “I don't really want to get into that. I want to stay here. I know a lot of guys want to stay here. It's a pretty awesome place to play. I think I'm just going to leave that out of my hands and just work on getting better and contributing.”
For the Leafs, locking Knies into a team-friendly deal early could provide the club with more security and flexibility down the road – for a great price. As a restricted free agent (RFA), Knies won’t hit the open market, but his next contract could be influenced by his performance this season. If he continues to progress alongside Matthews and Marner, the price to keep will only continue to rise, and signing him soon will save the team money in the long run, especially if Knies takes another step in his development.
