Matthew Knies exceeded expectations when he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs for the end of the 2023 regular season and playoffs.
Knies did not start game 1 of the Toronto Maple Leafs first round series against Tampa Bay but when Michael Bunting was suspended three games for a hit to the head on Erik Cernak, in game 1 of the series, Knies was called upon and delivered in every way imaginable.
Starting on the third line in game 2, he quickly made his way up the lineup as he started to take shifts on the left side of both Matthews-Marner and Tavares-Nylander.