'I Feel Better Than Ever': Matthew Knies Looking to Use Extra Muscle Gained in the Summer with Maple Leafs This Season

Knies added 10 pounds in the offseason, taking him from 217 last year, to 227 this year.

Nick Barden Sep 20, 2024 2:35 PM EDT

When new Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev met Matthew Knies for the first time, one thing that stuck out was the young forward's size.

Ahead of training camp last year, Knies was listed at 6-foot-3 and weighing 217 pounds. However, before this season, his height remained the same, but he added 10 pounds, coming in at 227.

"I didn't know how big Kniesy was until you sort of walk up and see him and he's a big boy with a lot of skill and a really good shot," Tanev said on Friday following Day 2 of training camp.

When Knies stepped in front of the media, he revealed the secrets of what he got up to this summer, including what's allowed him to gain more muscle ahead of the NHL camp.

"Lots of ice cream and stuff like that," he joked. 

"No, I've just been working hard in the gym on the ice, trying to get to my full potential. I feel better than ever and stronger than ever. I'm just excited for the season to get going."

The 21-year-old forward is entering his second full season in the NHL after scoring 15 goals and 20 assists in 80 games last year. It was a massive season for him as he weaved through the process of being a pro player.

He says adding more weight will help in several aspects of his game.

"I just want to be strong on my skates, be able to hold on to it, make plays and create space using my physicality and my strength with the puck," Knies said. "I think that's where I excel on the ice. I'm just looking forward to using that extra muscle to defend the puck and create momentum with it."

The forward has begun Maple Leafs training camp alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner whom he spent time with last season. It's still early in training camp, however, it could be a trio that Toronto begins the regular season with.

"It's a privilege. I have to earn my keeps there. I'm going to work my tail off to stay there and support them. It's a huge honor to play with those guys."

What's the biggest thing he learned from playing with them?

"I learned a lot. I think that they feed off each other. I learned that Mitchie can make some unbelievable plays. I just have to get my stick on the ice and be around the net," Knies said. "With Auston, I think he's good in all areas of the game. Just got to be ready at all times. It's a pleasure to play with those guys."

Along with working out this summer in Minnesota with a few of his old teammates from college, Knies got a chance to play some tennis with Matthews. The young player said he was into the sport more when he was a kid, and when Knies arrived back in Toronto this summer, Matthews invited him over to play.

"I've been smoking him since," Knies said with a smile.

According to Matthews, Knies walked into the gym after his media availability and told Toronto's captain that he told reporters he smoked him in tennis.

"He's never beat me in tennis. Never. He literally walked in the gym and told me that he said that. I said, 'I can't believe you'd lie to the media like that. It's crazy,'" Matthews said on Friday.

"He's good, but we've been playing the last couple weeks and yeah, he just straight up lied to you guys. I don't know what else to say, but that's what it is."

It's already been a difficult camp, with head coach Craig Berube pushing the players. But the new coach likes what he sees from Knies, and wants to get a first-hand look at the young player with Marner and Matthews in training camp.

"He's a big guy. He skates well. He's a physical player with some hands. Right now, he's on a line with Matthews and Marner, and it's a guy that goes to the net, going to create loose pucks in the offensive zone, be a good forechecker, things like that, and be responsible defensively."