It’s fair to say Matthew Knies didn’t expect to hear his name mentioned so frequently in off-season trade rumours, but wasn’t necessarily surprised.
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name → ’ → rumours
“I was a little bit shocked,” the Maple Leafs winger said Friday at training camp.
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winger → shock → camp
“But I feel like I’ve seen everyone’s name in the time I’ve been here.
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I → feel → time
“I knew there was definitely a possibility having no no-trade protection, but I feel like no one is ever safe; untouchable isn’t really a thing.
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untouchable → know → protection
(Managers) want to make the best team, and if guys aren’t playing well then you make some changes.
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you → want → changes
That’s what you’ve got to expect in the off-season.”
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you → ’ → season
Knies is one of the youngest Leafs at 23 and coming off a career-high 66 points in 79 games, despite nagging injuries.
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Knies → come → injuries
He says he’s over a lingering knee problem: “I’m back to 100 per cent.
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he → say → cent
He’s heading into the second season of a six-year, $46.5-million (U.S.) contract that carries a cap hit of $7.75 million.
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that → head → million
It was team friendly when he signed it in the summer of 2025, even more so now with top players agreeing to previously unheard of numbers.
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players → sign → numbers
“He hasn’t even scratched the surface of what his ceiling is,” said Leafs centre and captain Auston Matthews.
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Matthews → scratch → surface
“He does whatever he needs to get himself ready to play and goes out there and competes.
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himself → do → whatever
He’s taking another good step, taking on a bit more leadership as a guy who’s been here a few years now.”
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who → take → guy
With a six-foot-three frame carrying 234 pounds, sometimes at breakneck speed, it’s understandable why other teams would inquire.
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teams → carry → speed
“The package he brings, the strength he possesses down low, winning battles, he’s an extremely hard guy to contain,” said Matthews.
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Matthews → bring → battles
“He’s a hard guy to play against.
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He → ’ → ?
He’s a nightmare for defencemen.
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He → ’ → defencemen
He looks great (in camp), looks fast, got the hands, got the shot.
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He → look → shot
“For us to have success, he’s a big part of it.”
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he → have → it
It would be shocking now if the Leafs moved him.
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Leafs → move → him
General manager John Chayka said it was the previous regime that marketed Knies.
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that → say → Knies
“He’s an important part of our team,” said Chayka.
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Chayka → ’ → team
“The ability to have players that are good along the (boards), get to the net front, can play a physical game, finish checks but also have the talent and skill level to make plays and score goals, pretty hard to find.
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that → get → goals
“From our side, we’ve had numerous discussions with Matthew.
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we → have → Matthew
I think he understands exactly how we feel about him.
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we → think → him
The rumour mills, we have no control over that.
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we → have → that
Our relationship, where things stand, that’s all that matters to me.”
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that → stand → me
Knies found a way to battle through the noise: “With rumours and speculation, it’s something you can’t focus on or it’s going to irritate you.
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it → find → you
If you don’t focus on it, you’ll be fine and be a better hockey player.
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you → focus → it
With the pre-season set to open, Knies is the Leafs’ top left winger and has experience playing with Matthews.
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Knies → set → Matthews
Free-agent addition Jack Roslovic, known for his playmaking, will debut on the right side of the first line on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens.
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Roslovic → know → Canadiens
“Jack is a really good player and is extremely fast,” Knies said about Roslovic, making his sixth NHL stop after 69 games with the Edmonton Oilers last season.
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Knies → say → Oilers
“We should jell well together to start the season.
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We → jell → season
Hopefully we can catch the momentum in the pre-season.”
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we → catch → season
“(Chayka) felt that I was a valuable piece here,” said Knies.
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Knies → feel → ?
“That’s what I have to earn and show every day that I want to be here.
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I → ’ → what
They need me here.
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They → need → me
I have to keep going with that mindset.
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I → have → mindset
Hopefully it all works out and I can stay in blue and white for a very long time.”
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I → work → time
The Aporia
