'I'd Run Through a Wall for Him': Matthew Knies Explains Why He'd Do Anything for Coach Craig Berube
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
Toronto Maple Leafs power forward Matthew Knies revealed he would do pretty much anything for head coach Craig Berube, and the team needs to take advantage of it.
If you were to take one look at Matthew Knies, you'd see a player who has some of the most unique set of skills in the entire league. He's got a deadly shot, he can pass extremely well, hits like a truck, and isn't afraid to get into his opponents' heads when necessary.
A player who came out of nowhere to be a huge focal point of the offense, his role will get even bigger this season without Mitch Marner hanging about, and there's a good possibility he reaches 30+ goals.
How Craig Berube Earned Matthew Knies' Complete Trust
A lot of that evolution has to be due to the trust that Craig Berube put in the young power forward, as he increased his TOI by nearly five minutes under the new head coach and found his stride and became one of the league's top power forwards.
Which is probably why Knies wasn't shy about letting everyone know that his head coach's motivational methods give him an intense desire to compete.
Appearing as a guest on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, Knies was blunt describing his relationship with Berube, going so far as to go through anyone and anything once his coach starts getting the team fired up:
You hear his pregame speeches, and you want to run through a brick wall.
We've seen several instances of Berube using more than colorful language to get his points across, and there's no sugarcoating it with 'Chief'.
But it wasn't like Knies was just gifted this role, as he put up 58 points in 78 games (29 goals, 29 assists) while also adding 182 hits; only one of three players in the entire league with 25+ goals and 150+ hits.
Why Berube's Coaching Style Brings Out the Best in Knies
As someone who is as big and powerful as Knies is, it's not hard to see why Berube loves to utilize him.
But it's also the fact that the Leafs play a very North-South system now under Berube and Knies' speed and tenacity at both ends of the ice lends well to that style of play.
He's a very dependable and relentless forechecker, but he doesn't act carelessly and picks his spots when needed:
If you combine a player with the level of speed that Knies has, coupled with one of the quicker releases on the team, that's someone who plays perfectly with 'Chief's' system much like Brayden Schenn in St. Louis.
Both players are defensively gifted, physical, and talented offensive players. We saw how Schenn thrived under Berube so there's nothing to say that Knies can't do the same.
If he can build off last year and come out hot this season, it wouldn't be shocking to see Knies end up averaging over 20 minutes a night while also getting prime minutes on both the PP and PK.
There's something special going on in Toronto, and Matthew Knies is going to be a huge part of why that special feeling might lead to a Stanley Cup.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 7 | 979 ANSWERS 'I'd Run Through a Wall for Him': Matthew Knies Explains Why He'd Do Anything for Coach Craig Berube Is Matthew Knies going to score 30+ goals this season for Toronto? | ||
| Yes | 856 | 87.4 % |
| No | 123 | 12.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
