However once the dust settles for the Maple Leafs and the offseason hits a downturn, GM Brad Treliving should definitely focus on trying to lock young forward Matthew Knies up long-term. Coming off his rookie year, Knies played solid scoring 15 goals and 35 points in 80 games proving to be a pivotal member of the Leafs' middle six.
While it may feel like an overpay to give Knies a big contract this early on, it has worked out for plenty of other NHL teams in the past. One of the best examples of this is the Colorado Avalanche giving Nathan MacKinnon a seven-year contract worth $6,300,000 annually and by the end of the contract he blossomed into one of the best players in the NHL and was being paid half of what he was actually worth.
While it is unlikely that Knies will reach the level of a MacKinnon, he could certainly become underpaid if given a long-term contract this offseason and if he were to break out in his sophomore year with the Leafs, his demands may increase by millions and could be priced out of Toronto.
