Matthew Knies Playing Through Pain as Leafs Push Through Grueling Stretch
Matthew Knies isn’t making excuses. He’s not looking for sympathy either. The Maple Leafs winger is simply grinding through it - battling a lower-body injury that won’t go away anytime soon, and doing everything he can to stay in the lineup.
After Toronto’s 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Monday night, Knies didn’t sugarcoat the situation.
“It’s been honestly sh-y, but I have to do my best to prepare as well as I can,” he said postgame at Scotiabank Arena. “It’s one of those injuries that the more you play, the more wear and tear there is on it.”
This isn’t the kind of injury that improves with time on the ice. If anything, the demanding NHL schedule is making it harder. Knies acknowledged that the Christmas break gave him a bit of relief, but with the Leafs playing nearly every other day in January, recovery windows are tight - and valuable.
Still, he suited up on Monday despite being a game-time decision. He logged 19:11 of ice time, set up John Tavares for a power-play goal late in the first period, and delivered one of the Leafs’ 23 hits.
Statistically, that was the extent of his impact - no shots on goal, no attempts - but his presence mattered. In a lineup already missing William Nylander and Dakota Joshua, Knies staying available is no small thing.
This is a Leafs team that’s already thin up front. Losing Knies, even at less than 100 percent, would stretch that depth even further. He missed three games back in November with the same lower-body issue, and it’s clear he’s still not fully past it.
“Honestly, all of the above,” Knies said when asked whether he’s dealing more with pain or discomfort. “It’s just getting it ready, getting it warmed up.”
He emphasized that the injury isn’t limiting his ability to play - at least not enough to keep him off the ice - but he hasn’t felt like himself in a while.
“I’m here. I’m playing.
I’m a part of the group,” he said. “But I just really haven’t felt 100% for quite a while now.”
That’s the reality for a lot of players this time of year. The NHL grind doesn’t slow down, and with eight games left before the Olympic break begins after their February 3 matchup in Edmonton, Knies is focused on staying in the fight and managing the recovery process as best he can.
“We have a big break coming up, so I’m just going to try to use it to recover to the best of my ability,” he said. “And try to be back and help the team.”
Knies is gutting it out - not for headlines, not for heroics, but because that’s what teammates do. And right now, the Leafs need every ounce of that grit.