Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne tried to deflect any discussion about Matthew Knies as they felt it wasn't the right time to talk about the Maple Leafs forward.
NHL season is right around the corner which means we get the return of programs like 32 Thoughts, Daily Faceoff Rundown, and Real Kyper and Bourne, and it's the latter that is already starting to make waves this season.
Kyper and Bourne bury any Matthew Knies talk for now
In their first show returning from the summer break, Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne wasted no time getting to the nitty-gritty. However, when the topic of Matthew Knies came up and whether or not they wanted to discuss his role with Toronto, Kypreos was as blunt as we've ever heard the former Maple Leafs forward:
No. We've got all week. We've got all week. Yeah, they need him.
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That's really strange, especially coming from a duo who have no qualms about going into lengthy debates. While it could be a matter of them not having any real insight as of yet, with the trade discussion all summer and questions about his role, it does ring some alarm bells going forward.
Knies, 23, had a career year in 2025-26 with 66 points in 79 games including 43 assists. He took charge in the absence of Auston Matthews and was a bright spot in a season that was full of struggles.
It could be time to think about a new lineup spot for Matthew Knies
But there's also a chance that Knies hasn't necessarily peaked, but has reached his ceiling for now. Also, his metrics alongside Auston Matthews are pretty bad when you take Mitch Marner out of the equation.
Knies is more of a puck-possession forward who likes to crash the net and use his size. He's capable of digging in deep but that's not what he prefers, and he could be better off as a driver on the third line. It's a bit egregious to put a $7.75M player on the third line, but it's about finding the best fit.
With a player like Colton Sissons and Easton Cowan on his line, he has more than enough help at getting those pucks from down low, he can finish on his own or with help from Cowan - not running things on his own and expecting to do everything.
Knies has to prove that he cannot only produce at a high rate but also be the physical puck hound that gives Matthews a chance to get those prime scoring opportunities. He's still young and developing so there's a lot of time, which is why it may be best for Toronto to experiment now and figure out what they have.
It's a discussion they need to have eventually, much like Kyper and Bourne despite everyone trying to push it to the side.
Do you think Matthew Knies should be a first-line player for the Maple Leafs?
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