Knies is getting a lot of time in front of the net on the power play and has been reviewing footage of how Hyman plays.
TAMPA — Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube returned to a five-forward power play setup during the team's 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Berube explained the decision was influenced by a desire to keep Matthew Knies positioned at the net and John Tavares in the bumper role. Wanting to keep the 6-foot-3 forward was key in the decision and given Knies' impressive season so far, it's hard to argue with him.
Before the game, Berube shared that Knies had been studying a lot of tape on Zach Hyman's net-front work with the Edmonton Oilers' power play.
"He’s that type of guy, and we love his size and strength there," Berube said. "Big body, and he has a good stick. Tipping pucks in and things like that. He’s only going to get better over time and become a real good net-front guy on that power play."
Knies, returning to the lineup after missing two games with an undisclosed upper-body injury, made an immediate impact. He scored his ninth goal of the season, not on the power play but from his usual position in front of the net, redirecting a Chris Tanev point shot past Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
So, what exactly is Knies learning from Hyman?
"He can score goals around the net. I think kind of just like his footwork and his stick placement. Just little things like that could help my game," Knies said. "Obviously, I play net front on a power play and there most of the game, so just trying to make myself available and get my stick open to kind of tap those in. It's something I kind of need to get a better grip on."
Hyman scored a career-high 54 goals for the Oilers last season, with 15 of those coming on the power play.
In terms of production, Knies is emerging as a key winger in the Leafs' top-six forward group. A second-round pick (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, he now has nine goals and five assists in 21 games this season.
"He's a decent-sized guy. So he does a good job in front. He's tough to move," Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll said of Knies. "And obviously he's got a good stick around there. So it's good to see him get rewarded."