Leafs' Matthew Knies Reveals Unique Personal Detail That May Intimidate Future Combatants

It's no secret that Matthew Knies is an up-and-coming star for the Maple Leafs, but the emergence of Knies as someone who should potentially be feared by the opposition is a new concept.

Knies may not be an enforcer by definition, but there's no question that the rugged young forward has no problem sticking up for himself or his teammates.

The proof of this came last season. In the Leafs' first meeting against the Vegas Golden Knights last season, Knies was struck in the head by defenseman Zach Whitecloud, leaving him concussed and struggling to get on the bench before heading down the tunnel.

Some were surprised by the NHL's decision not to suspend Whitecloud for what was a very clear head shot, but the league did provide their reasoning for why a suspension wasn't warranted.

Knies was vocally upset about the type of hit he was caught with, but Whitecloud was quick to oblige him and answer the bell when Knies issued a challenge to drop the mitts in the rematch.

During the melee, Knies threw a flurry of lefts and rights, which sparked a question from the Leafs Morning Take podcast regarding his orientation as a lefty or a righty. What he revealed should serve as a notice to future dancer partners that he doesn't have a weak side.

An interesting detail revealed by Knies, and one that should keep opponents guessing if and when they decide to square up with him. It makes hit hard to grab hold of the sweater on a guy's strong side when technically both sides are strong.

Of course, hockey has been gradually moving towards less and less scrapping, so it may or may not end up being a valuable tool in the tool box for Knies, and one that may make guys think twice about wanting to cross that bridge with one of the NHL's emerging young stars.