Leafs Nation can finally breathe. Matthew Knies avoids restricted free agency and signs a new 6-year contract with Toronto, worth $7.75M annually.

What a deal for Toronto. A young, skilled forward who’s familiar playing up and down this Toronto lineup with talent that fits in with the identity that Head Coach Craig Bérubé and General Managed Brad Treliving are trying to give this team.

Knies, 23 in October, in his second full season with the Maple Leafs, scored 29 goals and assists, for 58 total points in the regular season. In the postseason, Knies scored 5 goals and 2 assists in 13 games for 7 total points. His impact proves further than just the points.

As a player, Knies is a strong comparable to former Leaf Zach Hyman. As mentioned in a previous article, Knies is a strong power-forward, with offensive abilities that compliment Auston Matthews or John Tavares quite well. He is able to win puck battles, beat players to the puck, little things that help contribute to a goal that don’t get recognized, Matthew Knies is able to do.

Knies is also incredibly strong at protecting the puck, winning board battles, making smart plays and transitioning up the ice. With Knies only improving, under the leadership and guidance of Craig Bérubé, Knies should quickly become an even stronger power forward, with even more offensive abilities once leaned upon.

Brad Treliving and Craig Berube have both shown complete confidence in Knies, with Maple Leafs management going as far as rejecting a potential trade that would’ve involved Knies, for then Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen.

“He’s sort of grown right in front of our eyes. So, he’s a big part of our team now (and will) continue to be moving forward. And he’s a unique player. You know, that’s a big, strong man at 22 years old.” Treliving mentioned when speaking on Matthew Knies.

Knies embodies a unique combination of skill, size, hockey acumen, and clutch calmness. He is a high-impact, two-way presense who steps up his game in crucial situations and is more than simply a physical player. Knies is considered a key player for the Maple Leafs not only now at his young age of 22, but for his entire future where the Maple Leafs hope to keep him past this extension. After this extension, Toronto will have $14.4M in cap room as their roster stands. Come July 1, the Maple Leafs will need to build on this roster, filling the holes that were glaringly large in the postseason.