The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of preparations for their opening round Stanley Cup playoffs series against a familiar opponent in the Tampa Bay Lightning, who broke their hearts last season by overcoming a 3-2 deficit to earn a Game 7 victory on the road in Toronto and send the Leafs home once again for an early summer.
This year, the Leafs are hoping that things will be different. Not only have they added several key depth pieces to their lineup that include the likes of 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly from the St. Louis Blues, but they’ve also gotten a glimpse (albeit in a short sample size) of highly touted Arizona native Matthew Knies.
The former University of Minnesota Golden Gophers forward, whom the team inked to a three year entry level contract earlier this month, has made a positive impression on the team coaching staff in the three games that he’s skated in so far. What are the chances that head coach Sheldon Keefe elects to have a baptism by fire by including Knies in his lineup for the postseason?
“Another good game and some really strong moments in the game, for sure,” Keefe said. “All three games he’s done a really good job of showing he belongs. I’d feel very comfortable (playing him in the playoffs). In the playoffs, it still remains to be seen, right? It is a different animal.”
“As far as the only test he could have — these three games for him — he has certainly fit in. Those are three very good playoff teams he has played against — a Florida team that was desperate, the same team we are going to play in Tampa, and then here tonight.”
“In all three games, he certainly looked like he belongs to me.”
Leafs fans, it certainly sounds as though you can expect to see Knies suiting up for the team in their upcoming series against the Lightning based on Keefe’s comments.
