Matthew Knies Breaks His Silence on Contract Extension Talks With Maple Leafs
Eligible to sign an extension this past July, pending RFA Matthew Knies has revealed where things stand in talks with the Maple Leafs over a new contract.
During training camp, the former second-round pick expressed his desire to remain a Leaf long-term, but has yet to put pen to paper on an extension.
After registering 12 points in his first 20 games and 4 more in his first 3 games after returning from injury, Knies has cooled down significantly.
Knies has just one goal in his last 9 games and just a lone point in his last five, prior to a disallowed Maple Leafs goal on Tuesday against the Islanders.
Following the Leafs' 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday, Knies faced some criticism from Craig Berube over his lack of production recently.
On Monday, Knies addressed that criticism in an interview with The Athletic, agreeing with Berube that he can be better and has to get back to what he was doing earlier in the season.
During his interview with Joshua Kloke, Knies also touched on his expiring contract and where things stand currently on an extension, noting that he is doing his best not to focus on it and is leaving it up to his agent.
Knies is just one of a number of pending free agents that the Leafs are attempting to work through extension conversations with. The list also includes Mitch Marner and John Tavares.
With the trade deadline approaching quickly, it will be interesting to see where Knies' extension falls on Brad Treliving's priority list. This originally appeared to be something that both sides were comfortable waiting on, but perhaps the threat of being bumped down on the depth chart by a new trade deadline acquisition could be enough to spook the Knies camp into blinking first and signing a deal before the perceived value of the player is slightly reduced.
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