Matthew Knies gave Maple Leafs fans something to talk about this weekend, and it had nothing to do with hockey.
The Toronto winger recorded a hole-in-one and marked the moment on Instagram, where he posted a Story showing himself with the golf ball and the flag at the hole. He was pictured alongside his playing partners, who appeared to include teammates Steven Lorentz, Michael Pezzetta and Zach MacEwen.
That was enough to send social media into joke mode, with fans taking aim at both Knies and the Leafs for their time on the course. One user wrote, “You have to think Leaf players would be very skilled at golf since they play so much with extended off-seasons,” while another quipped, “Is there a 12 on his ball anywhere?” - a nod to the draft lottery ball that landed Toronto the No. 1 pick earlier this year.
The teasing aside, an ace is still one of the toughest and most eye-catching feats in sports. It was not clear which course Knies was playing, but the timing fits the calendar: the Maple Leafs are set to open training camp next week, with on-ice sessions beginning on Sept. 17.
Knies has already spent plenty of this offseason in the spotlight. His name has come up repeatedly in trade chatter as the Leafs, now under new general manager John Chayka, look to reshape the roster.
Those online trade ideas have often centered on Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski, who has reportedly been on the block, with Knies included in the kind of package fans have been floating.
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For a Canucks team trying to shape its identity before the season begins, that kind of early buy-in matters. Gallagher also stressed how important team culture is in a dressing room, and he sounded eager to add to that environment rather than simply join it. The next question is how that perspective translates once the puck drops and the routine of a new market really begins to settle in. [Read more 🡒]