Why Matthew Knies is the Maple Leafs’ X-factor this season

Matthew Knies is the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ x-factor this season.

Toronto’s power forward is entering just his third full season in the NHL, and Knies’ development is turning into a fantastic success story for the organization. The 23-year-old Arizona native is someone other teams wish they had, and while a lot of the attention goes to Auston Matthews on the Maple Leafs’ top line, and rightfully so, as Knies goes this season, so do the Leafs.

Knies is on pace to play a career-high in minutes, and that’s across even strength, on the power play, and shorthanded. His game continues to evolve in all three zones, he’s becoming stronger, and more confident with the puck, and lately he’s shown off a growing playmaking ability, which may be the most excited part of what’s to come. Knies has six assists through the Maple Leafs’ first six games, and nothing is more exciting for Leafs Nation than seeing his playmaking abilities blossom in his third season. Matthews needs someone who can find him in his sweet spots, and someone to work off of who can steal the attention of the opposing defenders. And while the right wing position may rotate a tremendous amount this season, expect to see Knies on the left each and every game, so the chemistry between these two is the Maple Leafs most influential storyline to follow this season.

And frankly, it’s not even close.

Knies and Matthews are two players who are going to be attached at the hip for at least the next three seasons. If Matthews re-signs, it could be for their entire careers. They’ve known each other a long time, there’s certainly a mentor/mentee style of relationship between the two, and they’re showing off what a ton of work in the offseason together can turn into in the first couple of weeks into the season. Matthews leads the Maple Leafs with four goals in six games, and is averaging 21:59 of ice-time per game so far this season, Knies is the second ranked forward at 20:45. For Matthews, that’s 1:23 more than he averaged last season, so it’s obvious he’s healthy, and going to be called upon by head coach Craig Berube to lead the troops even more without #16 on his right wing. For Knies, so far he’s averaging two minutes more of ice-time this season compared to last, and Berube, in his second season, not only has a more complete team this season, but it’s quickly becoming obvious that he’s also relying heavily on the team’s best players to get them off to a great start to the new campaign.

Knies is evolving into one of the best power forwards in the game. He’s landed 15 hits in his first five games and is on pace to shatter his career high in this department. Add in the fact the Olympics are coming up and Knies is as motivated as ever to stick on Matthews’ hip not only in blue and white, but also in red, white, and blue this season. Team USA’s brass would be wise to keep the two together throughout the tournament.

The Maple Leafs’ best young forward is someone other organizations drool over and he’s a coach’s dream. When Easton Cowan, Steven Lorentz, Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson ask Berube what they need to work on, he can just point to Knies and say – do whatever he’s doing.

‘Becoming more like Knies’ should be this season’s motto in the Maple Leafs’ dressing room.