Matthew Knies Reveals What He Said to Nic Dowd After Breaking His Nose
Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies reflects on collision with Capitals' Nic Dowd that led to a broken nose.
After an impressive overtime win on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals, capped off by veteran John Tavares' game-winning heroics, the Toronto Maple Leafs improved to a 10-6-2 record.
While the Capitals were understandably frustrated with the come-from-behind loss, one player, Nic Dowd, had an even worse experience that night. After an accidental collision with Matthew Knies, Dowd went down with a broken nose.
True to form, Dowd did what any hockey player would do: he stayed in the game.
Following the incident, Knies reflected on the collision and expressed his regret for the unintended injury. As reported by Mark Masters on X:
'I really didn't mean to collide with him. It wasn't my intention to hurt him or hit him there. I simply didn't see him coming behind Doms ... I'm just glad he's OK.'"
Knies' apology and acknowledgment of the accident demonstrate maturity, particularly given the unfortunate circumstances. However, Knies has continued to shine on the ice this season, already recording 7 goals and 4 assists in 18 games.
Looking ahead, Knies has expressed a desire to remain a Maple Leaf long-term, but his strong play could make that difficult.
With his growing value, he may become too expensive to keep when it's time to re-sign him. A comparable deal being discussed is the 7-year, $49 million contract recently signed by Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy .
For Leafs fans, such a deal might be hard to stomach, especially given the team's salary cap constraints and their already top-heavy roster.
Nevertheless, Knies has proven himself a force on the ice, thriving on the first line with Mitch Marner. His blend of size, strength, and goal-scoring ability has made him a key contributor.
As Knies continues to develop into a game-breaker, the Maple Leafs may have no choice but to find a way to keep him-whatever the cost.
