Matthew Michael Knies Bio
Matthew Michael Knies is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. A 2021 second-round pick, Knies rose through the United States Hockey League and college hockey at the University of Minnesota before signing with Toronto and making his NHL debut in April 2023.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Michael Knies was born on October 17, 2002, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Miroslav and Michaela Knies. His parents immigrated to the United States from Slovakia before his birth, and Knies grew up in Arizona where he spoke Slovak with his grandparents and followed the Arizona Coyotes as a youth fan.
Knies comes from a hockey family: his older brother Phillip played collegiate hockey at Miami University and Bentley University. Knies developed as a large, left-shooting forward through youth programs in Arizona and later advanced to junior competition in the United States Hockey League.
Path to Hockey
Knies spent two full seasons with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, recording 31 goals and 56 assists in 90 games. His play at the junior level brought him to the attention of NHL scouts and led to his selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 57th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
After being drafted, Knies began his collegiate career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2021. He developed quickly in college, earning conference recognition and positioning himself to turn professional after two seasons in the Big Ten.
Matthew Michael Knies Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Knies debuted for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2021–22 season. As a freshman he scored 10 goals and added 17 assists for 27 points in 29 games, finishing tied for third on the team and leading all freshmen. That performance earned him unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and made him a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
In his sophomore season, Knies elevated his production while centering a top line alongside Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud. He scored 21 goals and contributed 21 assists in 40 games, finishing his collegiate career with 36 goals and 39 assists in 73 games. He won the Big Ten Player of the Year award and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as one of the top players in American college hockey, and Minnesota reached the 2023 NCAA championship game.
Toronto Maple Leafs Breakthrough (2023–Present)
On April 9, 2023, Knies signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and joined the club immediately. He was welcomed by team captain John Tavares upon arrival and made his NHL debut the next day, on April 10, 2023, in a road game against the Florida Panthers. Knies appeared in the final three regular-season games before staying with the team into the playoffs.
Knies played a notable role in Toronto’s 2023 playoff run, recording a primary assist on John Tavares’ series-clinching goal in Game 6 that helped the Maple Leafs win their first playoff series since 2004. He scored his first NHL goal on May 2, 2023, against goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers. Knies also experienced the physical demands of the playoffs, exiting Game 2 of the second-round series after sustaining a concussion following a hit by Sam Bennett.
Knies continued to develop into a multi-faceted NHL forward. On December 16, 2023, he recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick—a goal, an assist and a fight—in a 7–0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He later recorded his first career hat trick on January 4, 2025, against the Boston Bruins, marking another significant milestone in his early professional career.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 ft 3 in and roughly 227 pounds, Knies plays a physical, power-forward style. He shoots left, combines size with a willingness to engage around the net, and shows scoring instincts developed through junior and college competition. Knies brings a blend of net-front presence, finishing ability and forechecking that translates from the USHL and Big Ten to the NHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Knies’ career include his 57th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, winning Big Ten Player of the Year, signing his entry-level contract with Toronto in April 2023, his playoff assist on the Maple Leafs’ 2023 series-clinching goal, his first NHL goal on May 2, 2023, a Gordie Howe hat trick on December 16, 2023, and his first NHL hat trick on January 4, 2025.
Matthew Michael Knies Career Wins
While hockey does not track individual career wins the same way motorsports do, Knies has accumulated verified scoring and milestone achievements across junior, collegiate and professional levels. His documented offensive totals and key game moments chart a consistent progression from the USHL through the NHL.
College Highlights
In two seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Knies recorded 36 goals and 39 assists in 73 games. He earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors after his freshman season and won Big Ten Player of the Year following his sophomore season. He was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as one of college hockey’s top players and helped Minnesota reach the national championship game in 2023.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In junior hockey with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, Knies collected 31 goals and 56 assists in 90 games. At the professional level, verified moments include his first NHL goal, key playoff contributions in 2023, and multi-goal performances including his first career hat trick in early 2025.
Matthew Michael Knies Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Knies is the son of Miroslav and Michaela Knies, Slovak immigrants to the United States. His family background provided bilingual exposure and a cultural connection to Slovakia. Hockey runs in the family: his older brother Phillip played college hockey at Miami University and Bentley University.
Personal Life
Knies is fluent in Slovak and has used that skill to communicate with his grandparents. He grew up in Arizona and followed the Arizona Coyotes as a youth. Publicly available information does not list a spouse or children, and his professional focus remains on his hockey career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season brought additional professional milestones for Knies, including his first NHL hat trick on January 4, 2025, against the Boston Bruins. That performance underscored his growing offensive contributions for Toronto and affirmed his role as a young forward capable of producing in high-leverage games.
Under his entry-level contract through 2026, Knies enters the remainder of the 2024–25 campaign as a developing power forward for the Maple Leafs. His combination of size, scoring touch and playoff experience gives Toronto a depth option who projects to play a regular NHL role while continuing to refine his positioning and physical game.