Leafs prospect Matthew Knies is proving that he's an elite offensive player
The Toronto Maple Leafs have several intriguing prospects, but perhaps none with more potential upside than Arizona native Matthew Knies, who is enjoying a sensational rookie season with the University of Minnesota.
The 6'3, 210-pound power forward already has NHL size, and what he's shown in the NCAA this year is that he is not just another big body, he's also highly skilled and plays an exceptional transition game.
Knies, 19, may still be a couple of years away from turning pro, but he's showing that, although he was a second round draft pick (57th overall in 2021), he's likely much closer to a first round talent. Just how good is Knies? Elite Prospects' Lassi Alanen has set up some player cards for all NCAA players, using data provided by InStatHockey, and the model puts Knies firmly in the top 5 among all NCAA forwards.
Knies posted a 99 overall rating in the model, showing that there really are not many weaknesses in his game. His highest grades came in the Dekes and Transition categories, which shows that he is most threatening when on the counter-attack.
Knies has not even finished his first year at the University of Minnesota, so we should probably temper our expectations a bit. But the fact that he has already notched 25 points in 26 games as a rookie is certainly setting the bar a little higher than we may have set it otherwise.
Buckle up, Leafs Nation. This kid seems like he's going to be a beauty.
