Matthew Knies to return to Leafs lineup against Blue Jackets
A much-needed offensive weapon will be back in the lineup on Wednesday.
When speaking to the media, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies stated that he will return to action when the Leafs take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Knies had missed the last three games due to a lower-body injury, which he said popped up last month. It eventually got to the point where Knies felt like he needed a break to properly recover, stating that he’s “confident” that he can contribute with a better bill of health.
Matthew Knies is set to return tonight. Says the lower-body issue he had been dealing with first popped up a month ago. Came to the realization he was going to need some ti,e to let it recover. Says he's confident it's healed enough to make an impact. @BodogCA
— David Alter (@dalter) November 26, 2025As the Leafs have struggled for most of the opening weeks of the season, they certainly missed Knies’ offensive prowess during his absence. Despite beating the St. Louis Blues in overtime, Toronto lost to both the Blue Jackets last Thursday and the Montreal Canadiens this past Saturday. As a team, Toronto has scored over two goals just twice in its past four games.
Even with the nagging injury, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher managed to contribute, picking up 14 points in an 11-game span before being held pointless in his last outing against the Chicago Blackhawks 11 days ago. In 19 games, Knies has notched five goals and 17 assists for 22 points. He’s second on the team in helpers and third in overall scoring behind William Nylander and John Tavares.
Even with Knies back, Toronto still has plenty of injury woes. Captain Auston Matthews, goaltender Anthony Stolarz, defensemen Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo, and forward Nicolas Roy are all on injured reserve.
The Leafs (9-10-3) are the only team in the Eastern Conference with a record below .500, and are sitting at the bottom of the conference as a result.