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 a power-forward style game and shoots left. Selected 57th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Knies joined Toronto after a standout college career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 227 pounds, he has quickly become a fixture in the Maple Leafs’ forward group.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Knies was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to Miroslav and Michaela Knies, both of whom immigrated to the United States from Slovakia before his birth. He grew up in the Phoenix area alongside an older brother, Phillip, who went on to play college ice hockey at Miami University and Bentley University. Because of his family background, Knies is fluent in Slovak, a language he uses to communicate with his grandparents. Growing up in the desert Southwest, he was a fan of the local Arizona Coyotes, an unusual starting point for a future NHL power forward.
Knies developed his game through youth hockey in Arizona before moving into more competitive junior circles. His combination of size, skating, and scoring touch drew attention from United States Hockey League (USHL) scouts, and he eventually committed to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.
Path to Hockey
Knies spent two full seasons with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, where he produced 31 goals and 56 assists across 90 games. That production helped push his draft stock into the middle of the first round, and the Toronto Maple Leafs selected him 57th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. After being drafted, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota to continue his development in the NCAA.
During his freshman year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2021–22, Knies ranked tied for third on the team and first among freshmen with 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 29 games. He was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was named a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The following season, he centered a top line alongside fellow NHL prospects Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud, a unit widely regarded as one of the most dangerous in college hockey.
Matthew Knies Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Knies opened his college career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2021–22 and immediately emerged as a top offensive contributor. His mix of size and skill allowed him to play a physical, drive-the-net style while still producing points, and he earned All-Freshman recognition in the Big Ten.
In 2022–23, Knies posted 21 goals and 21 assists in 40 games and won the Big Ten Player of the Year award. He was also named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in American college ice hockey, with Cooley among the other finalists. The Golden Gophers reached the national championship game at the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, where they fell in overtime to the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Following the tournament, Knies ended his college career with 36 goals and 39 assists in 73 games and signed an entry-level contract with Toronto.
Toronto Maple Leafs Breakthrough (2023–Present)
On April 9, 2023, Knies signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs. Upon arriving in Toronto, he was hosted by team captain John Tavares, and he made his NHL debut the next day on the road against the Florida Panthers. After playing in the final three games of the regular season, he carried that momentum into the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Knies made an immediate postseason impact, recording a primary assist on Tavares’ series-clinching goal in Game 6 of the first round, helping Toronto win its first playoff series since 2004. In the second round against the Panthers, he scored his first career NHL goal against Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 1 on May 2. He exited Game 2 after being concussed by Panthers forward Sam Bennett and missed at least the next two games. Later that calendar year, on December 16, 2023, Knies notched a Gordie Howe hat trick in a 7–0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, opening the scoring, fighting John Ludvig, and assisting on a Max Domi goal. On January 4, 2025, he recorded his first career hat trick in a game against the Boston Bruins.
Driving Style and Strengths
Knies is widely regarded as a power forward who combines a heavy frame with strong straight-line skating and a physical forechecking presence. He is comfortable working along the boards, winning battles in front of the net, and finishing chances from close range. His ability to play a north-south, drive-the-net game has made him a natural fit alongside skilled linemates in Toronto’s top six.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Knies’ signature moments are his playoff assist on Tavares’ series-clinching goal in 2023, his first NHL goal against Bobrovsky later that postseason, and his first career hat trick against the Bruins in January 2025. He also represented the United States at the 2022 World Junior Championships and was named to the United States men’s national ice hockey team’s roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Matthew Knies Career Wins
Matthew Knies’ most prominent team accomplishment to date is helping the Toronto Maple Leafs capture their first playoff series victory since 2004, contributing a key assist in the decisive Game 6. He has also been a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and won the Big Ten Player of the Year award during his final college season. Internationally, he has represented the United States at major tournaments, including the World Junior Championships and the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Toronto Maple Leafs Highlights
Since debuting in April 2023, Knies has registered his first NHL goal, his first career hat trick, and a Gordie Howe hat trick in a Maple Leafs uniform. He has also logged meaningful playoff production in each of his first two postseason appearances with Toronto, including the primary assist on a series-clinching goal in 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
With the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Knies was a Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection, a Big Ten Player of the Year, and a Hobey Baker Award finalist. In the USHL with the Tri-City Storm, he was a consistent point-producer across two seasons, finishing with 87 points in 90 games.
Matthew Knies Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Matthew Knies was raised in a tight-knit Slovak-American household in Phoenix, Arizona. His parents, Miroslav and Michaela Knies, both moved to the United States from Slovakia before his birth, instilling in their children a strong connection to their heritage.
Personal Life
Knies is fluent in Slovak, which he uses to speak with his grandparents, and he grew up cheering for the Arizona Coyotes as a child. He has an older brother, Phillip, who played college ice hockey at Miami University and Bentley University. Knies lives in the Toronto area during the NHL season and continues to be active on social media, where he shares updates with fans.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Matthew Knies’ third full NHL campaign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he has continued to build on the physical, net-front presence that defined his first two years. On January 4, 2025, he recorded his first career hat trick against the Boston Bruins, underscoring his growing offensive role in Toronto’s forward group. He has remained a steady contributor in the top six, combining power-forward physicality with consistent finishing around the net.
As Toronto pushes deeper into the Stanley Cup playoffs, Knies is expected to play a prominent role on a checking-and-scoring line, with the Maple Leafs aiming to build on their 2023 first-round series win. His blend of size, speed, and playoff poise makes him a key piece of the team’s long-term core. With multiple years remaining on his entry-level contract, Knies is positioned to remain a central figure in Toronto’s plans for the foreseeable future.
