Matthew Knies Avoids Restricted Free Agency, Inks Long-Term Deal With Maple Leafs: 6 Years, $7.75M AAV

Matthew Knies will be a Toronto Maple Leaf for six more years.

The 22-year-old and the Maple Leafs agreed to a six-year contract extension on Sunday evening. The deal is reportedly worth $46.5 million, with the annual average value of Knies' new contract being $7.75 million.

Knies confirmed the news in an Instagram story, with the words, "6 more Leafs Nation!!!" above a photo of him. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, progress was made in negotiations on Friday. Dreger added that Knies' camp wanted to go shorter-term, but the two sides ultimately met in the middle at six years.

This was a big success for both sides, especially with it coming two days after John Tavares' four-year, $17.55 million extension. Knies has been an integral part of Toronto's lineup since joining the club towards the end of the 2023 season.

The power forward immediately stepped into the Maple Leafs' top six, providing production during his first NHL playoffs. Knies helped Toronto eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round that year, their first playoff series win since 2004.

He scored one goal and three assists in seven games that year, before playing in his rookie season with Toronto a few months later. After his debut year with Toronto, which saw him score 15 goals and 20 assists in 80 games, Knies followed it up with 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games this season.

In 27 playoff games with the Maple Leafs, in which they've won two rounds, Knies has tallied eight goals and six assists for 14 points.

Tavares and Knies' combined cap hit last season was $11.925 million, and now with both players signing extensions, their combined cap hits are worth $12,138,420, a 1.79 percent increase year over year, according to The Hockey News' David Alter.

With Knies' signing, Toronto has $13,570,581 in salary cap space ahead of NHL free agency. According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the Maple Leafs hope to talk to Brad Marchand if he hits the open market on Tuesday. The Athletic's James Mirtle added that Toronto could offer Marchand upwards of $8 million per season, promising he'd be playing within their top six.

"As far as I can gather, the Leafs’ biggest bet on July 1 is apparently going to be an attempt to sign Brad Marchand," Mirtle wrote. "That would obviously eat up a huge percentage of their remaining cap space — likely in the $8 million range — with the understanding the 37-year-old would be a big part of their top-six for the next few years."

NHL free agency officially opens up at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday.