The Maple Leafs’ bold swap with Columbus is starting to look like a steal, and Matthew Knies’ rough opening stretch is a big reason why.
Toronto dealt Knies, Steven Lorentz and Emil Andrae to the Blue Jackets the day before the season opened in exchange for Kirill Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood. Marchenko has already been a major boost in Toronto, Lorentz has settled in as a steady piece for Columbus’ AHL affiliate, and Merzlikins is injured but did recently skate for the first time as a Leaf. Andrae and Wood, meanwhile, have not seen a ton of opportunity.
The most glaring part of the deal, though, is how Knies has followed up his fast start in Columbus. He burst out of the gate with four points in his first two games, which made it look like Toronto might have given up on a breakout star too soon. Since then, it has gone quiet: just one point over his next 11 games, leaving him with five points in 13 games overall.
That stands in sharp contrast to Marchenko, who has 14 points in 14 games despite being hurt right now. He’s been a big part of why the Maple Leafs’ offense looks, and plays, much faster.
For all the early frustration around Knies leaving, the production hasn’t matched the hype. Even in a system that should suit him, he hasn’t looked like the force Columbus needs. His physical game has also taken a hit, with 21 hits through 13 games compared to 32 at the same point last year - a drop from 2.5 hits per game to 1.6.
And the warning signs were there before the trade ever happened. There were reports Toronto wasn’t sold on his ability to stay healthy, even though Knies said he was 100% healthy.
His preseason didn’t help matters either. He finished minus-2 with three hits and no points, and he looked slow, a step behind the pace.
If those knee concerns are still affecting his regular play, it only reinforces why Toronto was willing to move on. The Maple Leafs had every intention of keeping Knies as part of their future, but the combination of a slow start, health questions and an appealing trade return made him expendable.
Right now, it looks like Toronto not only made the right call, but may have already won the trade in year one.
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Jim Hiller has been pressing the same broader point: the Leafs need more time in the offensive zone so they are not spending shifts under constant defensive stress. The players have echoed the importance of communication and trust in the system, while John Tavares continues to move in the right direction in his recovery and will be evaluated before any return is considered. [Read more 🡒]