Matthew Knies ‘really confident’ in Maple Leafs despite Marner departure

HENDERSON, NV — Matthew Knies was one of the key benefactors of Mitch Marner’s career-best 102-point season in 2024-25.

The hulking sophomore himself hung career highs in goals (29) and points (58). Certainly hopping over the boards for top-line and top-power-play shifts alongside the all-world playmaker didn’t hurt.

And yet despite Marner’s off-season departure to the Vegas Golden Knights, via trade for Nicolas Roy, Knies’s belief in the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn’t wavered.

“I mean, it’s hard to replace a guy like that. He’s kind of a big player for us, with production,  the way he played, special teams,” Knies told Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas during a recording of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast Monday in Henderson, Nevada.

“We did a good job of acquiring some great players, some big players that play strong, add a lot of value to our team, a lot of depth. And I think we have a lot of players right now that can play many roles and step in for occasions that we need them to. So, I’m really confident in our group.”

• 32 Thoughts: The Podcast

  Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.

  Latest episode

So confident, Knies signed a juicy six-year, $46.5-million contract extension on July 2 without much drama.

The 22-year-old will be out to crack the 30-goal mark and avenge last spring’s gutting seven-game Round 2 loss to the eventual champion Florida Panthers.

A defeat that had him steering clear of catching hockey on the TV in the days afterward.

“I was just a little bit pissed off,” Knies said. “It sucks to sit on the couch and watch other guys play what you play or do what you want to be doing.”

Knies uses the word unacceptable to describe Toronto Game 7 performance at home, a 6-1 defeat that marked Marner’s final game in a Leafs uniform.

“But, you know, it happens,” Knies said. “Move on from it. And learn from it. And this year’s a new chapter for us, adding the players we did, and Chief being another year with us, some of the core pieces that we needed to stay and (did). It’s cool.”

A fast favourite of coach Craig Berube, Knies sees a path to contention through hardnosed, straight-line hockey and is encouraged by gritty off-season additions like Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Michael Pezzetta.

“As soon as (Berube) stepped in last year, he kind of changed it up a little bit. I think we played a lot harder, a lot tougher, a lot more physical. I think we’re still making our strides towards that really good championship culture,” Knies said. “This (past) year was a good step for us, but I think there’s still obviously more improvement that we need. And this summer, I think we did that.”