NHL Analyst Offers Potential Answer to Maple Leafs' 'Million-Dollar Question'

"Yeah, I mean, that is the million-dollar question,” Russo said. “A lot of it might be up to Matthew Knies, right? He is on the rise. They gave him the new six-year deal this offseason that I thought was a really quality price.

"To get him at six years (and) less than eight (million per season), when he has real, true superstar potential? I think that was a huge, huge signing for them.”

Matthew Knies Already Embracing Bigger Role

Knies, 22, is coming off a breakout season in which he scored 29 goals and 58 points in 78 regular-season games. He added seven points in 13 playoff contests and averaged more than 18 minutes of ice time under head coach Craig Berube.

Toronto extended Knies on the same day Marner was traded, locking him in with a six-year, $46.5 million contract carrying a $7.75 million annual cap hit.

Knies spoke shortly after signing the extension and said the deal reflected his desire to stay in Toronto long term.

“I just wanted to be here as long as possible, really. I wanted a longer term,” Knies said. “This deal fit with my trajectory as a player; this was kind of the sweet spot for both of us.”

Is Matthew Knies the New Face of Toronto’s Future?

Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving praised Knies while trying to keep everybody's feet on the ground, saying Knies is “just scratching the surface.”

Russo’s comments went a step further, with the analyst suggesting that Toronto is already counting on Knies to help fill the void left by Marner’s departure, and the other way around.

With Knies already playing on Toronto's top line alongside captain Auston Matthews and Marner last season, the winger should keep his role next season and keep growing his production, going from a pure scorer to a bona fide all-around offensive player.