Major Tension Emerging Between Matthew Knies and the Maple Leafs: Healthy Scratch Incoming?
There's trouble in Kniesville.
On Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched a tight 1-0 overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets. It was an enthralling win, with chants for Ilya Samsonav, who had a stellar 32-save shutout with 2.88 goals saved above expectedand Auston Mathews scoring the overtime winner, sending the Scotiabank Arena crowd into a frenzy. Yet amidst the cheers, a minor incident involving Matthew Knies caught everyone's attention. While the team celebrated, Knies was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
Knies' Bench Time: A Consequence of Disrespect?
In a challenging first period where the Leafs struggled and were outshot 16-4, coach Sheldon Keefe tried to rally the troops on the bench. During this crucial moment, Knies seemed to show a lack of respect by glancing away while Keefe addressed him directly. This minor gesture might have consequences, as Knies ended up with less ice time than expected, with Nick Robertson getting more playtime.
Knies had 20 shifts and 16:30 minutes on the ice, whereas Robertson got two extra shifts and played for 17:08 minutes. This difference in playing time could be linked to the earlier incident.
The Fallout: Impact on Knies and the Team:
It'll be intriguing to see if Keefe benches Knies for a game to make him reflect on his actions. Getting on the same page with his coach could help the young forward. Then again, they might have already resolved the issue privately. We'll have to wait and see during the next couple of practices or Saturday's game in Winnipeg. If Knies sits out, it'll be a clear message from Keefe.
While Nick Robertson shined, Keefe acknowledged the team's putrid performance despite the win, singling out particular players. Knies, unfortunately, saw reduced shifts and ice time, possibly linked to the earlier incident.
Although Knies has had a decent season with 8 goals and 17 points in 44 games, his apparent disrespect towards the coach could lead to consequences. This incident serves as a reminder that even small actions can have repercussions in the competitive world of the NHL.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 26 | 93 ANSWERS Major Tension Emerging Between Matthew Knies and the Maple Leafs: Healthy Scratch Incoming? Should Knies be benched? | ||
| Yes | 34 | 36.6 % |
| No | 59 | 63.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Zachary Werenski | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Sean Monahan | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jesper Bratt | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Frederick Gaudreau | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jack Hughes | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Mackenzie Weegar | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Kent Johnson | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Alexander Wennberg | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Mitchell Chaffee | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Anthony Cirelli | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matthew Coronato | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Marcus Foligno | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nick Foligno | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Conor Geekie | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Stefan Noesen | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Corey Perry | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Igor Sharangovich | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Dmitry Voronkov | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 19 | 16 | 3 | - | 32 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||