Matthew Knies Has His Eyes on Something Much Bigger Than This Season
Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies has his eyes set not only on a potential Stanley Cup, but being able to represent his country during the 2026 Olympics.
Expected to be a huge part of the offense now that Mitch Marner is out of town, Matthew Knies is going to look to build off his breakout season in 2024-25 and become even better, perhaps even reaching close to the 40-goal mark.
All ready for what lies ahead, Knies feels like he can compete with some of the best, and in a few years he may be considered one of them himself. But it seems he has a lot to accomplish this season, and not just with the Maple Leafs.
Matthew Knies: Hopeful Olympian
Speaking on the Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast, Knies revealed that one of his main goals this season was to have his name selected to represent his country in the 2026 Winter Olympics:
Obviously it would be a huge honour to make that team and to get to represent them again on that stage, that'd be pretty surreal.
I have to earn the opportunity to make that roster and I know it's not gonna be easy, there's a lot of names that deserve to be there.
It's gonna be challenging, but I think if I have a strong start to the season, I can show what I can do and hopefully earn my way onto that team.
I have to earn the opportunity to make that roster and I know it's not gonna be easy, there's a lot of names that deserve to be there.
It's gonna be challenging, but I think if I have a strong start to the season, I can show what I can do and hopefully earn my way onto that team.
Knies represented the United States during the 2022 Games when the NHL was not a participant, and Knies being in the collegiate system at the time led to him to being one of the better players to don the red, white and blue; he had two points in four games (1 goal, 1 assist).
He also represented the country in the World U-20's, so he has that international experience, and has only gotten better.
Look out NHL, Matthew's not going to play Knies
Last season, Knies had 59 points in 78 games (29 goals, 29 assists) while adding 182 hits, truly defining the meaning of power forward.
Earlier this summer, the Arizona native secured himself a six-year, $46.5-million extension and is going to be a focal point of the offense for years to come.
There's a lot of time for Knies to build on his last season and make GM Bill Guerin think twice about leaving him off the roster.
If last year's breakout was any indication, he's only going to be even better.
So much so that Guerin might not even need to think twice about including him.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 25 | 2067 ANSWERS Matthew Knies Has His Eyes on Something Much Bigger Than This Season Will Matthew Knies make Team USA in the Olympics? | ||
| Yes | 1848 | 89.4 % |
| No | 219 | 10.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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