Matthew Knies will become a restricted free agent this summer, and multiple analysts expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to face a serious test to retain him.
Former NHL players and current analysts Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney discussed the 22-year-old forward’s situation on March 31's episode of the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast.
Both predicted that rival NHL teams could push hard to lure Knies away from Toronto by submitting offer sheets for the young forward.
“I think they [Leafs] have a unicorn in him,” Bissonnette said. “He’s the type of player that makes me miss (former Leafs forward Zach) Hyman less. A puckhound on the forecheck and a guy who is relentlessly working."
Bissonnette believes Knies could be in line for a contract worth around $72 million over eight years with a $9 million AAV.
”The sky is the limit, and he's a dog, he's the type of guy in order to win," Bissonnette said. "So I'm fired up about having this guy, and he's probably going to get, like, eight-times-nine.”
Whitney, meanwhile, sees an offer sheet as a likely outcome.
“I think he’s gonna get offer-sheeted,” Whitney said. “Like how you saw (former Oilers and current Blues players Philip) Broberg and (Dylan) Holloway—he's so good.
"With the cap going up, I think maybe offer sheets now will become a much bigger thing, a much more popular thing."
James Mirtle of The Athletic wrote a column about Knies' future with the Leafs and acknowledged that the possibility of Toronto facing an offer sheet for the forward can’t be ruled out.
“There might actually be tangible offer sheet threats after St. Louis’ success with them last year,” Mirtle said. “I don’t get the sense that the organization is sweating that scenario, as the Leafs would intend to match.
"But it’s worth mentioning because of how flush a lot of weaker teams are going to be with cash and how shallow the UFA class is going to be.”
Knies has emerged as a core piece in Toronto’s lineup while bringing physicality and versatility to the top six. In 70 games this campaign, Knies has scored 49 points (25 goals and 24 assists) while posting a minus-3 valuation.
