Knies to make NHL debut vs. Panthers, Maple Leafs sign another goalie to ATO
Posted April 10, 2023 5:40 pm.
Last Updated April 10, 2023 5:43 pm.
One day after signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, top prospect Matthew Knies will make his NHL debut on Monday against the Florida Panthers.
The Leafs signed Knies to a three-year, entry-level deal on Sunday, one day after his Minnesota Golden Gophers lost to Quinnipiac in the NCAA Frozen Four final in Tampa.
Monday’s game can be seen live on Sportsnet or SN NOW beginning at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT.
With three games left in the regular season, the Leafs will get the opportunity to see if he can be a factor in their playoff lineup.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Sam Lafferty would come out of the lineup after suffering an injury in practice and that Knies will start on a line with Noel Acciari and Alexander Kerfoot.
Still trying to figure out “exactly” why, but TOR was not ruled to be eligible for an emergency recall in tonight’s game. https://t.co/hUkmE1V0yI
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 10, 2023
Additionally, Keefe said with Matt Murray still unavailable, the Maple Leafs have signed goaltender Nick Chenard to an amateur tryout contract to back up Ilya Samsonov against the Panthers, just as they did in Saturday’s win over the Canadiens.
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Chenard, 21, just completed his overage OHL season with the Owen Sound Attack and is an undrafted NHL free agent.
Knies, drafted 57th overall in the 2021 Entry Draft, concluded his sophomore season with the Golden Gophers, recording a team-leading 21 goals and 42 points in 40 games. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to college hockey’s best player.
The Phoenix native faced the decision to either turn pro and sign an entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs, or return to the University of Minnesota for the second straight season ahead of his junior year.
The Golden Gophers lost in overtime against Quinnipiac in the NCAA hockey title game, marking a second-device disappointing finish to their season with Knies onboard. Last season, the club fell to Minnesota State in the semi-finals, a seminal moment that ultimately drew the Arizona native back to school over “unfinished business.”
