Report: Maple Leafs top prospect signs entry-level contract

Knies is regarded as the best prospect in the Maple Leafs’ system. Now signed, he will be eligible to join the team for the stretch run ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Knies took home NCAA’s Big 10 Player of the Year honors for the just-completed campaign and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player. He was part of one of the most dominant lines in college hockey, along with Logan Cooley (Arizona Coyotes) and Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues). Knies, 20, had a career-high 42 points in 40 games after posting a 33-point rookie campaign.

Drafted 57th overall by the Leafs in 2021, Knies stands tall at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds. The young winger can physically dominate and had no issues taking on older competition in the college ranks. Skilled and smart with the puck, Knies was one of the most improved Draft+1 forwards last season and took his game even farther as a sophomore.

Knies has represented USA at various events, including the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, the 2022 Olympics and last summer’s World Junior Championship.

The Leafs can now integrate him into the organization's system ahead of an important playoff run for the team. While Toronto has not won a postseason series since 2004, they are set to enter the field as the second seed in the Atlantic Division upcoming. They will meet Tampa Bay in a rematch of last year that saw the Lightning come from behind to win Game 7 before later advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.

Knies could be used in a bottom-six role in the short term while using the playoffs to prepare (by degrees) for the pro game. Armed with an ELC, Knies’ low cap hit will make him an inexpensive option in the middle-six next season.