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Leafs Power Forward Matthew Knies Reveals Which NHL Stars He Models His Game After

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Ryan Smitheram
July 24, 2025 (1:45 PM)

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Dubbed a 'unicorn' by many across the league, Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies has revealed which NHL stars he models his game after.

Fresh off of signing a six-year extension with the Maple Leafs, 22-year-old Matthew Knies is looking to build off of a very successful sophomore campaign that saw him register 29 goals and 58 points in 78 games skating alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Without Marner, Knies is expected to shoulder more offensive and defensive responsibility, and with more time on the ice, it stands to reason that he could be in line for a career year.

At 6'3 and 227 pounds, Knies is quickly learning how to combine his unique size and skill-set to dominate opponents all over the ice. The former second-round pick is currently honing his craft and preparing for the upcoming season in Minnesota.

Matthew Knies Models His Game After Two Wildly Different Players

While in Minnesota, Knies took time out of his training to join Daily Faceoff's 'Morning Cuppa Coffee' where he was asked who he models his game after given his size and skillset. In response, Knies identified two very different players and their skill-sets he tries to incorporate into his game.

"A guy I like to look at is Mikko Rantanen. He's a bigger player, strong on his skates. He scores, he moves the puck well, he's poised. That's the player I would like to be like. I don't have the skill or potential. He's next level. Hopefully, in the next few years, I can try to get near that. I think with my size, I play a little more physical than he does. Maybe a guy like Tom Wilson, too. It's hard to pick a particular player."

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Humbly admitting he doesn't have Rantanen's skill -- at least not yet -- Leafs Nation now understands where he gets his physicality from in Tom Wilson.

Wilson, who began his career known for big hits and fighting, has found an offensive touch over the past seven seasons, combining his size and physicality with an ability to chip in offensively. So, it comes as no surprise that Knies would look to incorporate some of what Wilson does into his game.

Entering his third full season in the NHL, Leafs Nation and the Leafs are hoping that Knies continues to develop on an upward trajectory and take some of the sting out of losing 102 points from Marner.

Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily

Dakota Joshua Reveals How He Feels About Playing Under Leafs Coach Craig Berube Again

Reporter Proposes Intriguing Trade Idea Involving Maple Leafs' Nick Robertson

Maple Leafs Pay Tribute to Legendary Rock Star and 'Prince of Darkness' Ozzy Osbourne

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JUILLET 24 \| 1473 ANSWERS Leafs Power Forward Matthew Knies Reveals Which NHL Stars He Models His Game After Do you think Matthew Knies' assessment of who his game is modelled after is accurate?
Absolutely	692	47 %
Pretty close	649	44.1 %
Way off	132	9 %
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Leafs Power Forward Matthew Knies Reveals Which NHL Stars He Models His Game After

Dubbed a 'unicorn' by many across the league, Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies has revealed which NHL stars he models his game after.

Matthew Knies Models His Game After Two Wildly Different Players

Do you think Matthew Knies' assessment of who his game is modelled after is accurate?