Matthew Knies

Matthew Knies
Knies (right) during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 21, 2024
Born (2002-10-17) October 17, 2002 (age 24)
Phoenix, Arizona
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 227 lb (103 kg; 16 st 3 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Columbus Blue Jackets
Toronto Maple Leafs
National team  United States
NHL draft 57th overall, 2021
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2023–present

Matthew Michael Knies (born October 17, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey forward. He currently plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Knies played three seasons with the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and two years with the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Big Ten Conference (B1G).

He was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. He was also named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, All-Big Ten First Team, and All-Big Ten Second Team, as well as, a AHCA West First Team All-American.

He was drafted 57th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs of the 2021 NHL entry draft. On April 9, 2023, Knies signed a three-year entry-level contract to join the Maple Leafs.

On April 10, 2023, Knies made his NHL debut in a 2–1 overtime win against the Florida Panthers. The next day, he recorded his first NHL point after assisting on a Ryan O'Reilly goal in a 4–3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On October 21, Knies scored his first two NHL goals against Jonas Johansson in a 5–2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On January 4, 2025, he recorded his first NHL hat-trick in a 6–4 win against the Boston Bruins. On June 29, Knies signed a six-year, $46.5 million contract to stay with the Leafs.

On September 28, 2026, the Leafs traded Knies along with a Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae, 2027 conditional second-round draft pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzļikins, and Miles Wood.

References

  1. ↑ "Big Ten Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ "2022-23 Men's CCM Hockey Division I All-Americans". American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Maple Leafs Sign Forward Matthew Knies To Three-year, Entry-level Contrac". Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Matthew Knies debuts vs. Panthers, but that wasn't Maple Leafs' plan". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Call-up Woll's 46 saves, Nylander's 3 points power Maple Leafs past Lightning". CBC Sports. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Tavares scores in OT as Maple Leafs rally late to beat Lightning 4-3". ESPN. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Knies scores first hat trick as Maple Leafs hold off Bruins". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Maple Leafs Re-sign Forward Matthew Knies". Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Blue Jackets acquire Knies, Lorentz, Andrae and a 2nd-round pick from Toronto". Columbus Blue Jackets. Retrieved September 30, 2026.

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