Matthew Knies Bio
Matthew Michael Knies is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on October 17, 2002, in Phoenix, Arizona, he plays the game with a power-forward style shaped by his size, skating, and willingness to compete in physical areas. Knies was selected 57th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and he has since developed into one of the team’s most talked-about young forwards.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Michael Knies was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to Miroslav and Michaela Knies, who had immigrated to the United States from Slovakia before his birth. Growing up in a household with Slovak roots, Knies became fluent in the language and continues to use it when speaking with his grandparents. He has an older brother, Phillip, who also played competitive ice hockey, including time at Miami University and Bentley University, giving Matthew a familiar example of what a serious hockey path could look like.
Despite Arizona’s reputation as a warm-weather, non-traditional hockey market, Knies developed a strong passion for the sport and became a fan of the local NHL franchise, the Arizona Coyotes, while playing in youth programs throughout the Phoenix area. His combination of size, skating ability, and finishing touch quickly separated him from his peers, and his path through the United States Hockey League (USHL) reflected that early promise.
Path to Hockey
Knies moved to the USHL to play for the Tri-City Storm, where he spent two full seasons developing against high-level junior competition. Across 90 games with the Storm, he produced 31 goals and 56 assists, a totals-driven performance that established him as a legitimate NHL prospect heading into his draft year. That production led to the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting him in the second round, 57th overall, at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Following the draft, Knies committed to the University of Minnesota and joined the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s ice hockey program for the 2021–22 season. His freshman year produced 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 29 games, numbers that ranked him tied for third on the team and first among freshmen. He was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was named a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, marking a strong transition from junior hockey to the collegiate level.
Matthew Knies Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
During his sophomore season with the Golden Gophers in 2022–23, Knies was placed on a top line alongside fellow NHL prospects Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud, a unit widely regarded as one of the most dangerous in college ice hockey. He delivered 21 goals and 21 assists in 40 games, earned the Big Ten Player of the Year award, and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award given to the top player in American college ice hockey. Minnesota advanced all the way to the national championship game at the 2023 NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey tournament before falling in overtime to the Quinnipiac Bobcats, and Knies departed college with 36 goals and 39 assists in 73 career games.
On April 9, 2023, Knies signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, concluding his time in the NCAA. He was hosted by team captain John Tavares upon arriving in the city, a gesture that helped him settle in quickly with his new organization.
Toronto Maple Leafs Breakthrough (2023–Present)
Knies made his NHL debut on April 10, 2023, in a road game against the Florida Panthers, and he appeared in the final three games of the Maple Leafs’ regular season. He carried that momentum into the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, where he recorded a primary assist on John Tavares’ series-clinching goal in Game 6, a play that helped Toronto win its first playoff series since 2004. In the second round against the Panthers, Knies scored his first career NHL goal against Sergei Bobrovsky in the opening game of the series on May 2, although his postseason was cut short when he exited Game 2 after being concussed by Panthers forward Sam Bennett and missed subsequent games.
On December 16, 2023, Knies recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick in a 7–0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, opening the scoring, fighting John Ludvig within the first five minutes, and assisting on Max Domi’s goal in the second period. On January 4, 2025, he notched his first career hat trick in a game against the Boston Bruins, further cementing his growing role within the Maple Leafs’ forward group.
Current Team Era (2023–Present)
Knies remains under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a three-year, entry-level deal that runs through 2026, having joined the organization in 2023. Across his time in Toronto, he has gone from playoff debutant to a forward trusted in top-six situations, and his combination of net-front presence, physical play, and scoring touch has made him a fixture in the team’s plans. He has continued to produce key goals and important secondary contributions while adjusting to the pace and demands of an 82-game NHL schedule.
Driving Style and Strengths
Knies is listed at 6 feet 3 inches and approximately 227 pounds, giving him the size to win puck battles along the boards and protect the puck along the cycle. His strengths include a heavy shot, a willingness to engage physically, and a strong two-way work ethic that has earned him penalty-killing responsibility alongside his offensive minutes. The transition from college hockey’s structured systems to the NHL’s faster pace has been smoothed by his linemates and coaches, allowing him to lean on his strengths while continuing to refine his playmaking.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Knies counts his first NHL goal against Sergei Bobrovsky in the 2023 playoffs, his Gordie Howe hat trick against the Penguins in December 2023, and his first career hat trick against the Bruins in January 2025. His primary assist on Tavares’ series-clinching goal in the 2023 playoffs also stands out, as it ended a long Maple Leafs drought of series wins and gave the franchise its first such victory since 2004.
Matthew Knies International Play
Knies represented the United States at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, appearing in one game before the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols. Later that year, on January 13, 2022, he was named to the United States men’s national ice hockey team roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics, a selection that highlighted his standing among American hockey prospects.
Matthew Knies Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Knies comes from a tight-knit family with deep Slovak heritage. His parents, Miroslav and Michaela Knies, both emigrated from Slovakia before Matthew’s birth, and the family has maintained strong ties to its roots, including the Slovak language spoken at home.
Personal Life
Knies grew up in the Phoenix, Arizona, area, where he developed his game in youth hockey while cheering for the Arizona Coyotes. He has an older brother, Phillip, who played college hockey at Miami University and Bentley University. Knies is fluent in Slovak, a skill he uses regularly to communicate with his grandparents and extended family.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Knies remained a key part of the Maple Leafs’ forward group, contributing on both special teams and at even strength. His first career hat trick on January 4, 2025, against the Boston Bruins signaled that he was taking a significant step in his offensive development and gave Toronto an early-season milestone to build upon.
As a forward still on his entry-level contract that runs through 2026, Knies is expected to continue playing a meaningful role in the Maple Leafs’ lineup, including power-play opportunities and matchup-driven minutes against top opposition. The Maple Leafs’ outlook in 2025 centers on pushing deeper into the postseason, and Knies’ combination of size, scoring, and playoff experience from 2023 makes him an important piece of that push.