Matthew Knies' Injury Details Emerge Showcasing His Relentless Drive for the Maple Leafs

According to Joshua Kloke of The Athletic, things weren't the easiest for Maple Leafs power forward Matthew Knies during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

It was unfortunate for the Maple Leafs, as it becomes much clearer as to why he was a non-factor in Game 7.

It's understandable why Knies wasn't his usual physical and dominant self in the elimination game. He skated for only 15:12 in Game 7, and was a minus-3 and no hits.

Compare that to games he played in before being hurt, he had 18 hits, four points (2G, 2A), and a total 108:23 TOI in the first five. He was a non-factor when Toronto needed him the most, and for a player as physical as Knies; a deep rib bruise can cause a whole lot of issues.

Breathing problems, comfortable hitting, even just turning around causes pain and discomfort, and for Knies that's a huge facet of his game. He was essentially neutralized because of the bone bruise.

He's been one of the better 5v5 players in the postseason, and he was genuinely impactful every time he stepped on the ice, and with him seemingly going to be locked up for the long-term; he's only got room to grow.

Knies could potentially exceed $8M per season for his next deal; and while that's not going to help in the short-term, as the cap rises, that deal will mature into a potential steal.

While nothing is set in stone yet, Knies has committed to being in Toronto for the long haul, and is adamant that a deal will be done and isn't even considering an offer sheet.

Couple this with his announcement that he's going to work with some fellow NHL and NCAA teammates back home in Minnesota, where he aims to bulk up on his 227-pound frame and you get a recipe for incredible success.

If he comes back stronger, bigger, and faster next season then it's not a shock to see him hit 30+ goals and over 200 hits. Knies already hit 29 goals this year (58 points total) with 182 hits; so you can clearly see the potential.

If Toronto keeps him long-term, and he continues to grow alongside Auston Matthews, and learning under Craig Berube: He's going to be an absolute monster in a few seasons.

Which is great news considering that right now, all people can talk about is how bad Toronto will miss Mitch Marner.

So maybe Knies should give them a reason to forget about him.