‘I want to be here’: Leafs’ RFA Matthew Knies on whether he’d sign an offer sheet

One of the young stars of the Toronto Maple Leafs is making his intentions clear: He wants to stay.

During the team’s locker clean out on Tuesday, forward Matthew Knies was asked about his future with the team and whether he’d be interested in signing an offer sheet this coming offseason.

Knies, a pending restricted free agent, stated that he wants to be a Leaf.

“I want to be here,” Knies said. “I want to play here. That’s all that matters to me.”

Even when Knies was asked about signing an offer sheet in order to get a desired salary from the Leafs, he responded with the same answer.

The former Minnesota Golden Gopher didn’t elaborate on whether he prefers his new contract to feature term or be a bridge deal to a bigger contract down the line. His AAV on his entry-level contract was $925,000. According to CapWages, his qualifying offer would be at least $874,125.

Knies has been a lightning rod for the Maple Leafs since joining the team during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His second full season was by far his best, setting career highs in goals (29), assists (29) and points (58), finishing fifth on the team in scoring behind the “Core Four” of Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews and John Tavares.

Knies continued to be a solid player into the postseason. However, an injury suffered in Game 6 of the Atlantic Division Final led to some questioning if he was going to play in the do-or-die seventh game against the Florida Panthers. The 22-year-old stated on Tuesday that he made up his mind that he was going to play.

“I was going to play no matter what.”

Knies didn’t reveal what he hurt, though it certainly hindered his play. On a positive note, he said the injury won’t require surgery. Knies was a -3 in 15:12 of ice time in Game 7, which led to the Leafs losing 6-1, marking a 12th straight trip to the postseason where the team failed to make it past the second round.

The Phoenix native posted seven points in the playoffs, tied for fifth among Leafs.