Matthew Knies has established himself as a core forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season and hopes to remain a member of the team for the foreseeable future.
Speaking to reporters during the Leafs` locker cleanout on Tuesday, Knies was asked about his upcoming contract situation.
The 22-year-old articulated his intentions very clearly, even addressing the potential of signing an offer sheet from another franchise.
“I want to be here,” Knies stated emphatically. “I want to play here. That’s all that matters to me.”
Knies, the Leafs` second-round selection from the 2021 NHL Draft, is set to become a restricted free agent. He had a breakout season with career-highs of 29 goals and 59 points, placing him just behind the team`s established `Core Four` forwards in production.
While Knies is one of several players Toronto aims to sign for next season, it remains uncertain whether his new deal will be for a short or extended term.
On the latest “32 Thoughts Podcast,” Sportsnet`s Elliotte Friedman indicated that since Knies has proven to be a vital piece of the team`s foundation, the Leafs will likely push for a long-term contract.
“They could have traded Matthew Knies for [Mikko] Rantanen this year. They didn’t, so they obviously think he’s going to be a big part of their future and we’ll see how those contract talks go,” Friedman explained. “If you think someone is a core piece, you sign them for as long as you can because the price will never go down. And I think they will do that with Knies.”
Given Knies` apparent lack of interest in pursuing an offer sheet elsewhere, the Leafs likely have some time and flexibility in negotiating his contract.
A key challenge the Leafs` management must navigate involves balancing their salary cap, especially with uncertainty surrounding the potential returns of veteran forwards John Tavares and Mitch Marner next season.
