Leafs GM Brad Treliving Faces Pivotal Decision on Matthew Knies After Breakout Season
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has a big decision regarding Matthew Knies he needs to figure out, which is to give him a long-term extension or a shorter bridge deal.
As Toronto sees one superstar head out of town in Mitch Marner, they are set on keeping another one in their midst for a long time, as Matthew Knies has emerged as a huge piece of the team going forward, but he needs a new contract.
They are trying to figure out whether to offer Knies a bridge-type deal where he gets three or five years to raise his stock and cash in later in free agency, or bet on him and sign him to an eight-year deal to keep him around through his prime.
To bridge or budge? Debating Matthew Knies' next deal
It's a hot topic of debate, which is why it wasn't surprising to see TSN 1050's Aaron Korolnek and former Maple Leafs defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo discuss the topic on their FirstUp program.
Korolnek led the charge first:
75% [of a poll] want to lock up Matthew Knies for eight years, 25% wants bridge. So do you sign him for eight?
Colaiacovo liked the sound of a long-term deal, and believes as long as the cash is correct it should be no issue but feels it's way too risky:
Yeah, if it's 8x8 [8 years, $8M per] sign me up. Anything more seems like a little bit of a stretch.
I think he had an amazing year and created an identity for himself but you lock him up for eight years because you like one year of hockey; but then struggle to see him play that style for the next couple years, you ask 'Why did we commit eight years?'
It's why I hate eight-year deals. There's so much that changes year to year, let the guy go out and earn it then pay him whatever, who cares? The cap is rising anyways.
If you sign him for three years and he turns out to be this superstar, it doesn't change the contract he would make now. Are we talking $1M? $2M? Worry about it then, I'm all for the bridge deal.
Keep the carrot dangling in front of these guys, when a guy gets too comfortable sometimes it's hard to keep them motivated. They come into the season and go 'What do I have to prove? I got my money.'
Not saying he's that guy but there's more situations across the league than there isn't with guys locked into eight-year deals who never fulfill that potential because they got too comfortable. - Carlo Colaiacovo, TSN FirstUp
I think he had an amazing year and created an identity for himself but you lock him up for eight years because you like one year of hockey; but then struggle to see him play that style for the next couple years, you ask 'Why did we commit eight years?'
It's why I hate eight-year deals. There's so much that changes year to year, let the guy go out and earn it then pay him whatever, who cares? The cap is rising anyways.
If you sign him for three years and he turns out to be this superstar, it doesn't change the contract he would make now. Are we talking $1M? $2M? Worry about it then, I'm all for the bridge deal.
Keep the carrot dangling in front of these guys, when a guy gets too comfortable sometimes it's hard to keep them motivated. They come into the season and go 'What do I have to prove? I got my money.'
Not saying he's that guy but there's more situations across the league than there isn't with guys locked into eight-year deals who never fulfill that potential because they got too comfortable. - Carlo Colaiacovo, TSN FirstUp
Should Toronto take a gamble and see if they have their next big superstar, or should they play it safe?
Does Matthew Knies deserve a max extension with the Maple Leafs?
While it's hard to argue with his skillset, the Leafs don't want to get burned.
Knies had 58 points in 78 games (29G, 29A), while also adding 182 hits; he was as dominant offensively as he was physically, and has 44 goals and 353 hits over his last two seasons; it's safe to say he's broken out.
But it's a double edged sword. Knies is projected to continue playing at an elite superstar level, and that projection is six of his eight years (according to Ryan Ma of 6ix On Ice).
You are risking a lot by giving Knies a bridge deal and banking on his loyalty and the fact the other teams around the league aren't interested; a very unlikely possibility.
He embodies the new identity of the team. Big, strong, fast, physical and offensively gifted; he has all the tools to be one of the best power forwards of the modern generation at the end of the day, and they don't come around often.
That alone should be enough to keep him around for the long-term, and while you always run the risk of Knies pulling a Mitch Marner eventually and leaving town; who knows where the league or the team will be at the end of his eight years.
He could have zero success and find himself wanting out or he could have two Stanley Cup wins. There's no guarantees when it comes to signing him long-term, making a bridge a bit easier to swallow.
But at the risk of that bridge becoming unstable in a few years, Brad Treliving should bank on Knies as the foundation for years to come.
He's certainly big enough to do so.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 11 | 438 ANSWERS Leafs GM Brad Treliving Faces Pivotal Decision on Matthew Knies After Breakout Season Do you think Matthew Knies will sign a bridge-deal or a long-term deal with the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Bridge Deal | 161 | 36.8 % |
| Long-Term Extension | 277 | 63.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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