Huge news regarding top Leafs prospect, Matthew Knies
With the NCAA collegiate season coming to a close, two storylines to follow - depending on the teams involved - are 1) when can a team sign their collegiate star to an entry-level contract, and 2) Big Ten Individual Awards. For fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, both storylines apply to them as this year was particularly special for Matthew Knies who took home a few honours.
The 2021 second round pick was involved in trade rumours for the better part of a few months with the Leafs having been interested in several marquee players that would've rendered him a key part of any package. Fortunately, Kyle Dubas stuck to his guns on Knies being untouchable and was able to swing for the fences without having to give up any of the organization's top prospects.
Playing for the University of Minnesota, Knies just advanced into the Big 10 Conference Finals, will be a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, and was just named to the All-B1G First Team and took home Player of the Year honours for the Big 10. He scored 21 goals and 40 points in just 35 games, improving on a terrific 2021-22 season where he scored 15 goals and 33 points in 33 games.
Knies joins teammates in Brock Faber and Logan Cooley in the All-B1G First Team as well as projected number 2 pick in Adam Fantilli, New Jersey Devils prospect in Luke Hughes, and currently a pending UFA in goaltender, Ryan Bischel.
The University of Minnesota will be named to the Frozen Four, so for those anxiously waiting Knies' debut in a Leafs uniform, you'll will have to wait just a little longer. However, the Leafs have made the appropriate roster moves to welcome him at any time.
Knies has done everything under the sun that a collegiate player can possibly achieve, aside from winning a Championship. He was also part of the US Olympic Team in the most recent rendition of the Winter Olympics.
