Leafs’ Matthew Knies ‘100 percent’ healthy ahead of 2026-27 season

It is a new era for the Toronto Maple Leafs with John Chayka and Mats Sundin running the front office and Jim Hiller taking over as head coach.

While there was plenty of intrigue over the summer as to possible major changes Chayka could make to the roster, the core of the team remains largely intact, albeit with plenty of new faces making up a rebuilt supporting cast that the organization hopes can help get the group back into the postseason.

Among the pre-existing core, winger Matthew Knies was among the most widely discussed as an option to be used in a trade to upgrade a different area of the roster. Instead, Knies is sticking around, and after battling through some injuries en route to a 66-point effort last season, he says he is fully healthy as he arrives at training camp.

“I’m back to 100 percent,” Knies said. “No issues with it. It’s not going to be a problem this year.”

Knies’ 66 points in 79 games last season marked the best output of his young career, and as he enters the second year of a six-year deal with a salary cap hit of $7.75 million, the Arizona native is set to ascend from a level that already makes him a huge value for a Leafs team looking to bounce back from a miserable season.

“I think just keep elevating all parts of my game really,” Knies said of his expectations of himself for the season. “I want to be a reliable player on both sides of the puck. I want to help produce, help create offense, and support my linemates, make sure they’re having great games. I want to be a really reliable player and just contribute in all ways I can.

As camp opens, Knies is skating on Toronto’s first line alongside center Auston Matthews and newcomer Jack Roslovic, who signed to come East after a 21-goal campaign with the Edmonton Oilers.

The trio would be supported by a second line of 2026 No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna, who would play left wing alongside stablished stars John Tavares and William Nylander.

The Leafs will be one of the first teams to drop the puck on the 2026-27 season, as they are slated to take on their archrival Montreal Canadiens at 7:00 PM Eastern on Sept. 29.