Insider Reveals Expected Length of Contract Extension for Leafs' Matthew Knies

On Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they had signed defenseman Jake McCabe to a five-year contract extension with some deferred salary. With McCabe's extension done, the Leafs have been able to turn their attention to other free agents such as Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Matthew Knies.

Fans and reporters have been hoping that Knies and the Leafs would get an extension done sooner than later as the sophomore winger has been red-hot to start the season, including scoring his fifth goal in six games at the end of the first period on Thursday. However, most of the reporting surrounding Knies suggests that he may wait until the summer to negotiate his new deal.

During the first intermission of Thursday's game, TSN's Darren Dreger revealed that while it is not entirely impossible, a long-term extension is unlikely for Knies. Dreger noted that a bridge deal is more likely due to how expensive a long-term deal could be for the 22-year-old former second-round pick.

Further to Dreger's report, "Leafs Morning Take" host Nick Alberga added that it will likely be a four-year deal. Although it may not be the long-term deal fans were hoping for, a four-year deal won't walk Knies to unrestricted free agency, meaning that he will still be an RFA at the end of the reported four-year deal, according to PuckPedia.

Knies has expressed his desire to remain a Leaf for the foreseeable future, and given that he will be an RFA at season's end, not many expect a deal to be done until the off-season.

Obviously, it would be in the Leafs' best interest to get him signed sooner than later, before his asking price skyrockets, but that may have already happened with his 6 goals and 7 points through 11 games to begin the season. His upward trajectory is obvious now, which makes getting a deal done before the New Year much more challenging.