Matthew Knies watch officially begins in Toronto

Exiting the trade deadline, the Leafs purposely left themselves with just enough cap space for a maximum salary entry-level contract and one contract slot. That contract and available slot has been reserved since the beginning of the season in the hopes that top prospect Matthew Knies would be joining the team at the end of his season with the Minnesota Gophers.

The Gophers and Knies are slated to begin the National Championship tournament Thursday against Canisius as the heavily favoured number one ranked team. Should the Gophers make it to the finals, Knies would be available to the Leafs beginning April 9th and would have just three games with the team before playoffs begin. However, as Chris Johnston noted, in a "one and done" tournament anything can happen and Knies could join the Leafs as early as this weekend.

As much as the Leafs would like to give Knies as much time as possible to get accustomed to the team and the NHL, they would also like to see him end his collegiate career on a high note. Already nominated for the Hobey Baker award and named the BIG 10's player of the year, a Frozen Four championship would be the most fitting way for Knies to end his tenure at the University of Minnesota. The Knies watch is officially on and we will see him in the blue and white at some point in the next 16 days.