TSN analyst gives wild Matthew Knies hot take that he believes will come to fruition
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team who has had very few prospects in recent years who possess those breakout star qualities that make a fanbase excited for the prospect pool. Of course, that all comes with having guys like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly and being perennial contenders.
Since drafting Auston Matthews 1st overall in 2016, the Leafs don't have a heck of a lot to show for all of their draft picks since - yet. Timothy Liljegren (2017) and Nick Robertson (2018) still have a lot of room for improvement and are quickly approaching the period of time where they are what they are and a lot of that star potential goes away. In 2019, the Leafs nabbed Rasmus Sandin, who was traded to Washington last season. In 2020, the Leafs acquired a 1st round pick from Pittsburgh in the Kasperi Kapanen trade, which they then used on a solid KHL prospect in Rodion Amirov (may he rest in peace). In 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Leafs appear to be back on track in terms of landing some players with legitimate potential top-6 star power in Matthew Knies, Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan.
We all know that Minten and Cowan are very likely to be heading back for another year of major junior in the WHL and OHL, respectively. Knies, however, appears earmarked for a spot on the left wing with the Leafs this season, with the potential to break out in a big way.
This morning on TSN 1050's First Up, guest analyst Mike Johnson was asked who he felt was likely to have the better season between Knies (the Leafs' 2nd round pick in 2021) or Juraj Slafkovsky (the Habs' 1st overall pick in 2022). Surprisingly, Johnson doesn't even think it will be close. Why? Because he thinks Knies' upcoming season will blow Slafkovsky's out of the water.
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"Oh, I don't think it's even close - I think it's Matthew Knies. I mean, I think he's just further along... Slafkovsky scored a goal last night in the exhibition game, but he's just not there yet. He doesn't make enough happen, he's not quite clean enough with the puck. He can shoot it, when he has time, but he just doesn't get himself around it and the team's no good, so he doesn't have people providing him with service, whereas Matthew Knies is the opposite where he's on a very good team, he gets support - but he's so much better with the puck in tight spaces.
I think Matthew Knies will have a very good season this year. I don't know if he's going to have a better career [than Slafkovsky], I don't think Montreal would trade Slafkovsky for Knies straight up, but I think this year coming up, I'd be very surprised if Matthew Knies wasn't more productive [and would have a] better season than whatever Slafkovsky puts forward."
Johnson's assessment of Knies' upcoming season must make Leafs Nation feel compete and utter joy and excitement. Not only is Johnson projecting that a Leafs' 2nd round pick is going to outproduce a division rival's 1st OVERALL pick, but that it's not even going to be close... *chef's kiss*.
The point that Johnson really wanted to drive home, and I agree with him, is that Knies is going to have a lot more help this year than Slafkovsky will. If his usage in the pre-season is any indication, he'll also receive time on both special teams, playing a secondary PK role and a secondary PP role. Also, if he sees any time in the top six with either Matthews or Tavares, not only will he out-pace Slafkovsky, but he'll gave a legitimate chance to compete with Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli, among others, throughout the year in the Calder Trophy race for Rookie of the Year.
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
| POLL |
28 SEPTEMBRE | 221 ANSWERS TSN analyst gives wild Matthew Knies hot take that he believes will come to fruition Will Matthew Knies outscore Canadiens 1st overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky this season? |
| I agree with Johnny - I think he will | 125 | 56.6 % |
| I disagree - there's no way Knies beats Slaf | 8 | 3.6 % |
| I think it will be close, but Knies will be better | 73 | 33 % |
| It will be close, but Slafkovsky will be better | 15 | 6.8 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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