Toronto Maple Leafs select Matthew Knies with first pick in 2021 Draft
By James Reeve
With their first pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Arizona-born forward Matthew Knies.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had to wait until the 57th pick of the 2021 Draft before they were able to make their first selection, with versatile forward Matthew Knies the latest prospect added to the team’s system.
The 18-year-old Phoenix, Arizona native has spent the past couple of seasons developing his game with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL – the top youth league south of the Canadian border.
In 90 regular season games with the Storm, Knies scored 31 goals and racked up a total of 87 points as a near point-per-game player.
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The left-shooting forward, who is capable of playing both through the middle as well as out on the left wing, is highly rated among some scouts and members of the media, and could be a promising play to develop within the Leafs’ system.
He already has impressive size for the NHL game, standing at 6-foot-3, 205lbs, and a brief scouting report from Elite Prospects suggests that he will be a strong forechecker that uses his strong frame to his advantage – potentially giving the Leafs a player that can win puck battles and provide some urgency in the offensive zone.
There may be some comparisons to Zach Hyman in his style of play, with the Leafs needing to replace the drive and determination that the 29-year-old provided with him expected to sign a multi-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers by the time free agency opens up in just a few days.
Knies will continue his development at the college level next season, having agreed to join Big Ten outfit the University of Minnesota all the way back in 2019.
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Having a second round prospect continue working to refine his game at this level is a positive for the Leafs, who will be sure to keep a close eye on his progress until they feel he is ready to make the jump to the professional level – with the Toronto Marlies well-known for helping many players reach their goals of playing in the NHL with the support of the Leafs.