Today the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Matthew Knies to a three-year ELC.

And two hours later, it's official.

Knies, now 20 years old, was drafted in 2021 57th overall. He has been playing in the NCAA for two years after several in the USHL. He is listed at 6'3" and 209 lbs, and plays left wing.

Knies, sadly, lost in the men's Frozen Four final last night in Tampa.

The Maple Leafs, meanwhile have been shuffling the roster to deal with some concurrent problems:

  1. Matt Murray is somewhat hurt, but cannot go on LTIR because it is too close to the end of the season.
  2. Calle Järnkrok was slightly hurt and did not play in the most recent game.
  3. There is no extra cap space when a forward is added to replace Järnkrok, so the Leafs could not recall Joe Woll.
  4. Jett Alexander was signed to an ATO to play as backup and he remains on the roster.
  5. Wayne Simmonds, recalled to replace Järnkrok, has been returned to the AHL.
  6. Even if all players were healthy, Matt Knies had to have signed a contract with no performance bonuses, because players added from the LTIR pool count for their full cap hit including bonuses.

Knies deal will almost certainly be a simple max contract at $925,000 with the usual signing bonus of $92,500 which he gets immediately. As reported earlier, that leaves a small pile of change as LTIR room available.

The Maple Leafs should also get him a ride from Tampa to Sunrise, Florida to meet the team there as they arrive from Toronto.

The only thing up in the air is what will his number be? His usual 89 is already taken.

For more on Knies, read this if you haven't, and if you haven't, why haven't you?

Is Matthew Knies NHL ready right now? | PPP Leafs
Matthew Knies has had a phenomenal season in the NCAA and seems poised for an NHL contract soon. But is he good enough right now to be a regular in the Maple Leafs’ roster?
PPP LeafsBrigstew
Free Agents and Contracts