TORONTO — How good was Matthew Knies in Saturday’s home opener?
Well, he scored a blue-collar, drive-the-net, Craig Berube–approved greasy goal. He registered a game- and career-high plus-4 rating. He earned a career-high 21:06 ice time, more than any Leafs forward not named Mitch Marner or Auston Matthews. And he got promoted to the top power-play unit in the absence of John Tavares.
Sophomore slump? How about sophomore bump?
“Just his confidence” is what Matthews has noticed from his heavy left winger early in Year 2. “He’s got such a high ceiling, and he puts in the work every day.”
Knies’s ice time averaged 13:40 as a rookie, but his fearless, nonsense-free, head-north style has quickly aligned with his new coach’s vision for how a power forward should conduct himself.
The literal 10 pounds of weight and figurative 10 pounds of confidence Knies added over the summer were on full display Thursday when, as the puck carrier, the 21-year-old trucked No. 1 Devils D-man Dougie Hamilton like a running back bursting through the line:
“He’s a powerful guy, I’ll tell ya,” Berube said. “He was excellent (Saturday). He’s strong, strong on pucks, plays the game the right way. The scoring of the goals will come
“He’s young. It’s hard to score in this league as a young guy. And I’m not saying he’s not gonna score early here in his career. But the goals will come. We’re using him in all situations — killing penalties, power play. He was out there at the end of the game, six versus five. So, he’s been very structured. And the strength of his game is high ceiling, for me.”
‘Struggling’ trade chip Liljegren gets his shot
The noise engulfing Timothy Liljegren — who is available for trade but may not be moved anytime soon — could quiet down if the third-pairing defenceman can impress in his season debut, which should arrive Wednesday versus the L.A. Kings.
“If something happens, it happens,” Liljegren downplayed to reporters Monday. He has been avoiding the social-media scuttlebutt. “I had some tough times last year, too, and I got through it.
“I love the city, love the team.”
The first-round pick has grown up in the Leafs system and the city of Toronto since he was 18. Were Liljegren to go the way of friend Rasmus Sandin and be traded away after popping in and out of the lineup, the Maple Leafs would have just one drafted-and-developed defenceman on their roster (Morgan Rielly).
Liljegren’s effort in camp and inability to adjust seamlessly to Coach Berube’s play style got him scratched in favour of Conor Timmins for three games.
“Obviously not fun not playing, but I’ve tried to come in and work as hard as I can to get back in the lineup,” he said. “I’ve been struggling a little bit, trying to find my way.”
Why did Liljegren have such a rough go in pre-season?
“I don’t have a good answer for you,” he said. “I tried my best, but it didn’t go my way.”
Berube had a chat with the player recently and has already noticed “more intensity” from the mild-mannered Swede in practice. The coach is requesting a “hard and simple” game from Liljegren Wednesday.
A chance to rise to the challenge and up his stock.
Matthews needs a point but makes a good one
Matthews had already ripped six goals by Game 3 of the 2023-24 season.
Now, in his first campaign with a ‘C’ on his shoulder, we enter Week 2 with the Rocket Richard champ still searching for a point.
The centreman’s linemates both bent the twine Saturday, yet the guy with the game-high eight shots did not.
Matthews is unfazed by his slow offensive start — he went pointless through the first three games of 2021-22 before erupting for his first 60-goal season — and it’s only a matter of time before a sniper with a 16.1 career shooting percentage breaks out.
“The chances are there. I mean, we’re playing good hockey. We’re winning. That’s the most important part. Those chances will eventually fall,” Matthews said, matter of fact. “You take what the game gives you sometimes.”
A first-time Selke finalist last season as the game’s top defensive forward, Matthews is now taking a regular PK shift with Marner (“It’s a challenge, but it’s been something I’ve wanted to do the last couple years,” he said) and has held his own against the opposition’s top pivots, starting plus-2.
“Pretty good hockey overall, for me,” Berube said. “He’s getting opportunities. They don’t go in all the time.
“I really like his effort and his compete out there playing 200 feet. He’s been matched up against top lines every night and doing a good job.”
Matthews’ lack of production should barely register on Toronto’s Concern-O-Meter.
OEL? PP1? LFG!
When the Leafs inked the offensively gifted Oliver Ekman-Larsson to a hefty deal in the off-season, we suspected he’d be welcomed with the John Klingberg treatment — immediate promotion to quarterback of the top power-play unit, which laid an egg in the Bruins playoff series.
That was not the case, as Morgan Rielly started the season up top.
But midway through Saturday’s contest, as Toronto’s PP sunk to 0-for-9, Berube had seen enough and bumped Ekman-Larsson up with the all-stars.
“It’s kinda hard to decide who to give to the puck to sometimes… so many threats out there,” Ekman-Larsson said. “It’s fun to be on that unit.”
Berube wants quicker puck movement and more rubber on net 5-on-4, and Ekman-Larsson prides himself on sifting pucks through and works on walking the blue line every day.
In fact, OEL’s five shots were second only to Matthews’ eight on Saturday, and he finished with a game-high 10 attempts.
“He’s looking to shoot a lot, which is good,” Berube said.
Ekman-Larsson’s poise in the O-zone had his injured countrymen excited in the press box.
“I was talking with Järny (Calle Järnkrok) when we were at the game,” Liljegren said. “His shot is so sick. It’s so smooth, and he gets a lot of shots through to the net. It’s fun to watch.”
“Offensively, he’s been one of the best in the league,” says Matthews, the Arizona native well familiar with Ekman-Larsson’s prime Coyotes years. “He’s extremely skilled. He’s kinda been a power-play guy his whole career.
“I didn’t realize how much bite he plays with on the defensive side of the puck until seeing him here.”
That’s because Ekman-Larsson, 33, has increased his training attention to D-zone play with age.
And when he gets across the blue line, he uses one of the game’s longer twigs to slide pucks away from oncoming checks and sneak pucks through the lane.
“I joke that you don’t have to skate as much with a long stick,” he said with a smile. “It’s been working for me.”
One-Timers: William Nylander was absent from Tuesday’s practice due to illness and questionable to play Wednesday. If so, Max Pacioretty will take his spot on the power play… Joseph Woll hit the ice by himself Monday and Tuesday, his first work since suffering some “lower-body tightness” a week ago. He’s hopeful to join team practice soon but hasn’t faced any shots from teammates and won’t be rushed into game action. “He’s improving,” Berube says. “Especially a goalie with an injury, you want him to be fully healthy.”… John Tavares (illness) missed practice Monday but returned Tuesday. A bug is going through the Toronto room…. The Maple Leafs’ player-of-the-game belt has been in sole possession of their netminders. Original winner Dennis Hildeby handed the prize to Anthony Stolarz following Saturday’s home win.
Maple Leafs projected lines Wednesday vs. L.A. Kings (if Nylander can’t play):
Knies – Matthews – Marner
Holmberg – Tavares – Robertson
McMann – Domi – Pacioretty
Lorentz – Kämpf – Reaves
Rielly – Tanev
Ekman-Larsson – McCabe
Benoit – Liljegren
Stolarz starts
Hildeby