According to various insiders, top prospect Matthew Knies has informed the Toronto Maple Leafs that he will NOT sign with the organization this offseason and will return to the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the NCAA next season.
Knies and the Gophers have a solid chance at a championship season in 2022-23 and, at just 19 years old, there's still plenty of time for Knies to develop before turning pro. He put up 15 goals and 33 points in 33 games with Minnesota this past season and will be a favorite for the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's finest player next season.
In typical Toronto tradition, things have been blown completely out of proportion but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman claims that Knies' choice to decline a contract offer from the Leafs has no influence on future decisions to join the team.
