Report: Maple Leafs In Conversations On Extension for Matthew Knies

It was an intriguing development during Saturday night's preseason game for the Toronto Maple Leafs. There was youngster Matthew Knies wearing the 'A' (as in, alternate captain). Pretty heady stuff for the 21-year-old (turning 22 next month) with only one season in the NHL.

Sure, a lot of the usual veterans weren't in the lineup, but that still caught the eye of insider Elliotte Friedman, who noted on his 32 Thoughts podcast Monday that Knies is about to become a key core piece for the Leafs, maybe even with an extension this season.

That says a lot about how they see him... It says they think very highly of him.
I'm wondering if they're going to sign him. I think Knies is on the precipice of being a really long-term, important piece of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He's heading into the last year of his ELC and I think there have been some conversations about (an extension). I don't know how much or in depth they've really talked about it, but there's been some rumors that there have been some conversations.

Knies took some major strides in his rookie season, and finished with 15 goals and 35 points in 80 games, while handing out 169 hits with his 6'2", 210-pound frame.

He's got the offensive creativity as well as the physicality to be a major force for Toronto.

He also showed his clutch gene, with an overtime winner in the playoffs.

MATTHEW KNIES HOW DO YOU DO!!!! pic.twitter.com/tzb4wXChdH
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 1, 2024

How the team feels about him is already reflected in the important lineup spot Knies is set to take on this season, as the projected lines have him slotted in back on left wing on the top threesome with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, where he did get a good look last year as well.

It could be the start of a very Knies long run in Toronto.