Could Matthew Knies Receive An Offersheet This Offseason?

Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs will become a restricted free agent on July 1. Being a restricted free agent means that the player’s team must submit a qualifying offer based on the player’s performance from the previous season, which is usually a raise in salary if the player has improved. With restricted free agency comes the chance of an offer sheet. That is a contract offer that other NHL teams can extend to restricted free agents. If an offer sheet is made, the original team of the player must match the offer or the player will go to the other team. 

Could Matthew Knies Get the Offer Sheet

The short answer is yes, but not very likely. Knies had a breakout season with Toronto last season, scoring 29 goals and adding 29 assists. He looked like a mainstay in Toronto’s system, and it never looked like there were any moments of discomfort. He was one of their top prospects for years, and he showed off that hype last season. 

For an offer sheet to happen, there would have to be a significant disagreement between the two sides when discussing a new contract. If Knies was asking for 11 million, and the Maple Leafs were asking for eight. It is also worth mentioning that if Matthew Knies were to get Offer sheeted, the team acquiring him would have to forfeit their own first, second, and third-round pick in the draft. 

The draft picks in an offer sheet must be the team that is trying to pry the player away. For example, if the Chicago Blackhawks were trying to offer sheet Knies, the draft picks going back to Toronto would have to be owned by Chicago. For instance, if the Blackhawks tried to send a third-round pick they acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the draft capital package, that would not be allowed. 

The Maple Leafs Need To Get This Done 

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to get Matthew Knies signed. There is a good chance that Toronto will lose two of its core players Mitch Marner and John Tavares this offseason. That might provide some motivation for GM Brad Treliving to get this extension done because the nightmare scenario would be for Marner and Tavares to walk, and Knies to get offersheeted. The odds of that scenario seem very low.

Scoring 58 points at age 22 is impressive. Matthew Knies is going to get paid, and he’s going to get paid under the premise that he’s going to grow into one of Maple Leaf’s future stars. Matthew Knies made $925,000 last season. If the Maple Leafs are going to sign him long-term, he’s probably worth eight million per season or higher. 

Last Thoughts

Signing Knies long-term is important for the Toronto Maple Leafs present and future. He’s a potential star in the making that will be able to pair with Auston Matthews down the road. It seems likely that Toronto will get this one done.