Matthew Knies Sets the Record Straight on How He Feels About Mitch Marner After His Departure
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers Imagn Images
Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies has been taking part in the NHL's media tour ahead of training camp, where he revealed how he feels about Mitch Marner's departure.
When Matthew Knies re-upped with the Leafs for another six years, part of his media availability was spent discussing the departure of former linemate Mitch Marner.
Knies admitted during his initial comments that it wasn't easy to see Marner leave, but he wasn't losing sleep over it after seeing the additions that GM Brad Treliving had made.
While replacing the 28-year-old is more of a "by committee" approach, Knies is also expected to take on a larger role, and the 22-year-old Arizona native did hint that he wanted William Nylander to join him on the Leafs' top line.
Matthew Knies Opens Up About Seeing Mitch Marner In a Different Jersey
In speaking with The Athletic's Joshua Kloke, Knies shared that seeing Marner in a different jersey is 'really weird', but that it taught him an important lesson about the NHL.
"It feels really weird, to be honest. It's hard to picture him in a different jersey... I realized that at this level it's more of a business and you've got to do what's best for yourself and your family. I hope he did that. I hope he enjoys himself and still has a lot of success because I think he meant a lot to our team and obviously me. It just feels awkward."
Unlike Marner, who blamed the pressure from Leafs Nation as the reason for his departure, Knies is looking forward to using it as fuel to help him take his game to the next level.
"I think it's honestly so much fun that there's so many people so invested in our group. I'd be upset with fans if they weren't happy with my game if I wasn't playing well. I want that feeling that I'm playing for the whole city," Knies said. "Idon't really look at it as something that can tear me down. It's something that is going to make me better."
Coming off of a 29-goal, 58-point sophomore campaign, Knies spent the summer in Minnesota training and appears set to grab hold of the opportunity ahead of him -- hoping to lead the Leafs, along with Matthews, Nylander and John Tavares, on the team's deepest post-season run since 2002.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 9 | 1103 ANSWERS Matthew Knies Sets the Record Straight on How He Feels About Mitch Marner After His Departure Who will join Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews on the Leafs' top line? | ||
| Maccelli | 368 | 33.4 % |
| Nylander | 130 | 11.8 % |
| Domi | 448 | 40.6 % |
| Other | 157 | 14.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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