Craig Berube Has Finally Identified the Secret to Young Maple Leafs Star's Success
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has identified what has made one of his top young stars so successful amid a career season in Toronto.
Former second-round pick Matthew Knies registered a hat trick on Wednesday night, including the overtime winner, but it was his ridiculous pass just moments before that garnered all of the interest post-game.
Following the game, Berube was asked about the 22-year-old's ability to defy the dreaded sophomore slump that many second-year players typically endure, Berube revealed why Knies has been able to avoid it.
"The reason for his success is his competitiveness, in my opinion. It is really, really high-end. He wins battles. He skates through people all night. He gets in there on the forecheck. He wins battles down low.
He hangs onto pucks. I came in here not knowing a whole lot about him. You see him at camp, and you start (to learn about him). Again, he has grown tremendously throughout the season."
He hangs onto pucks. I came in here not knowing a whole lot about him. You see him at camp, and you start (to learn about him). Again, he has grown tremendously throughout the season."
The pending restricted free agent is sure to secure a hefty raise this off-season, with Leafs Nation hoping he opts for a long-term deal. For now, though, the Arizona native will look to reach the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career ahead of the playoffs.
Despite missing a handful of games due to injuries, with his hat trick on Wednesday, Knies became just the third Leaf since the 1989-90 season to score 29 or more goals at 22-years-old or younger, joining Phil Kessel and his linemate Auston Matthews.
With four games left before the playoffs, Knies has more than enough time to tally his 30th of the season and add to his 55 points in 74 games while backing up his comments from last week about heading into the post-season on a winning note.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 10 | 2430 ANSWERS Craig Berube Has Finally Identified the Secret to Young Maple Leafs Star's Success Did you think Matthew Knies would have this much success so early in his career? | ||
| Yes | 1304 | 53.7 % |
| No | 1126 | 46.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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