Maple Leafs Make Strong Moves by Re-Signing Knies & Tavares

Over the past couple of weeks, the Toronto Maple Leafs quietly made two important moves by bringing back Matthew Knies and John Tavares. They’re very different players at very different stages in their careers, but both signings make a lot of sense. Here’s why each one matters heading into the 2024–25 season—and why they’ll both play key roles if this team hopes to go deep in the postseason.

Move One: Matthew Knies: Big Body, Big Upside

Below are three reasons why re-signing Knies was such a good idea.

Reason One: Knies Fits Perfectly on the Top Line

Knies had a breakout year with 25 goals and 20 assists, and he’s proving he belongs alongside Auston Matthews. He brings the size and physical play that complements the skill of Matthews and whomever might take Mitch Marner’s place. He creates space, gets in deep on the forecheck, and has enough finish to keep defenses honest.

Reason Two: Knies Doesn’t Shrink in Big Moments

From his very first playoff game, Knies has looked comfortable when the stakes are high. That’s rare for a young player, and the Maple Leafs clearly believe in him—they reportedly wouldn’t include him in a trade for Mikko Rantanen. That says a lot about how much they value him.

Reason Three: Knies Is Part of the Future

Knies is only 21, and he’s already become a key piece of the core. He plays a style the Maple Leafs need more of—strong, direct, and physical—but he’s also skilled enough to grow into a 30-goal player. This is the kind of guy you build around for the long haul.

Move Two: John Tavares: Still Steady, Still Scoring

Below are three reasons why re-signing Tavares was such a good idea.

Reason One: Tavares Just Keeps Producing

People have been waiting for Tavares to slow down, but he hasn’t. He put up another 30+ goal season, and he’s still a consistent presence on the power play and in the faceoff circle. He might not be the player he was in his prime, but he’s still getting the job done.

Reason Two: Tavares Is a Steadying Influence

Even without the captain’s ‘C,’ Tavares is a huge part of the locker room. He leads by example, handles the media with class, and keeps things calm when things get rocky. That kind of leadership still matters, especially with a younger group coming up.

Reason Three: Tavares Bridges the G hi sweetie how are you doing?ap

Having Tavares around gives the team a nice mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent. He can help guide guys like Knies, Nick Robertson, and Easton Cowan as they take on bigger roles. He was open to an extension at a team-friendly cap hit, which was a win-win.