GDT: Matthew Knies makes his NHL debut vs Panthers

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Florida Panthers
7:00 p.m. ET in Sunrise Florida
Watch on: Sportsnet Ontario (regional broadcast)

Here's our preview of the game:

It's the first of three games to go. This time next week the NHL playoffs will be underway.

A couple of last minute updates from Sheldon Keefe:

Matthew Knies WILL make his debut tonight for the Maple Leafs.

Knies will start with Acciari and Kerfoot tonight

Keefe wants to get him sheltered match-ups alongside vets, but notes things will move around with only 11 forwards dressed @TSN_Edge
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 10, 2023

Sheldon Keefe on Matthew Knies:

"Great opportunity for him to get right in. It hasn’t been ideal circumstances in terms of his travel & even [today] with medicals & all these kind of things, but ideal circumstances passed us by long ago so here we are."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 10, 2023

The plan is to go 11/7 as well, so that indicates some forward, perhaps Calle Järnkrok, is not playing.

Matt Murray is still injured, Leafs will go with another goalie on an ATO since it would appear the NHL said no to the recall of Joe Woll under the emergency exception rules. If that is the case, then the NHL is not convinced the amazing confluence of events which created this emergency weren't of the Leafs' own making.

My understanding is that it was deemed the #leafs created the "emergency" conditions that would necessitate the use of the Roster Emergency Exemption, which is why they weren't permitted to bring in an AHL backup for tonight's game in Florida.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 10, 2023

I think this is a very defensible position the league is taking. They let the Leafs get their man in Matt Knies, but they aren't letting them do it for free.

#Leafs confirm the league is not eligible for a cap-exempt goaltending recall.
— David Alter (@dalter) April 10, 2023

Okay, this is what I think it is: TOR could have called-up Woll instead of signing Knies, which makes it “an emergency of their own creation.” My bet is TOR considered signing Knies the priority, wanted to get him signed no matter what
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 10, 2023

It appears that Nick Chenard (Owen Sound Attack) will back up for the #LeafsForever tonight on an ATO
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) April 10, 2023

Official:

The @MapleLeafs have signed G Nick Chenard to an amateur tryout agreement. He will serve as the club’s backup goaltender tonight.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) April 10, 2023

Nick Chenard is just 21, and undrafted OHLer of four seasons. He's from Tecumseh, Ontario, and has played for Owen Sound his whole junior career. Owen Sound was swept in the first round of the playoffs by the London Knights. And Chenard's last action was only a few days ago on April 6.

It seems significant that the Leafs picked up a player of a level higher than Jett Alexander for this second ATO, or else I'm just worried about Ilya Samsonov's health. Chenard was the lead on a tandem in Owen Sound this year, and neither of the two had great looking save %. Rookie Carter George was brought in at age 16 and had a hot run of 10 games, which might just be why they made the playoffs. OHL fans can fill us in in comments.

Also tonight at 7 pm on TSN 1 and 4, as well as NHL Network, it's Canada vs USA in preliminary round play at the Women's World Championships.