Blade of Steel has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL or NHLPA
Matthew Knies Contract Talks Take Huge Turn After John Tavares Signing
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs restricted free agent Matthew Knies is in need of a new contract, and with John Tavares locked into a new extension, things could get interesting.
Matthew Knies is one of the best players on the Toronto Maple Leafs right now, although he is not locked into a new deal for next season.
As of July 1st, he will become a restricted free agent, which is a huge deal. Teams can then hit him with offer sheets, which he will supposedly refuse to sign.
Over the past week, both sides have attempted to get a deal done, but the biggest hurdle appears to be the money. Knies wants a bridge deal, and the Leafs are prepared to give him one, but at the right price.
Matthew Knies negotiates with the Toronto Maple Leafs
On Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed John Tavares to a four-year contract extension, which was one of their top priorities before July 1st.
Now, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Leafs are shifting their focus to Knies, and they are getting incredibly close to making the deal official.
With John Tavares now locked in, the Maple Leafs are turning their attention to a 5-year deal for pending RFA Matthew Knies. His AAV is expected to fall in the $7 million range, and negotiations have made progress this week.
It seems as though a five-year deal worth $7 million per season is the right move here. While it may feel expensive next season, it won't in subsequent years.
Avoiding offer sheets for Knies is the best thing that the Leafs can do, and general manager Brad Treliving has been showing some proficiency in the art of negotiating.
If the Leafs can get this done before July 1st, there will be a ton of happy fans in Toronto. But the job won't be done yet.
Today, the Leafs are finally making picks at the NHL Draft, and things are definitely going to get even more interesting as some trades could be on the table.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 28 | 669 ANSWERS Matthew Knies Contract Talks Take Huge Turn After John Tavares Signing Do you believe Matthew Knies will sign his extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs before July 1st? | ||
| YES | 602 | 90 % |
| NO | 67 | 10 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
