Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe says players like Matthew Knies have "more to give" as the club looks to get the team game back on track.
There will be a new look up front when the Toronto Maple Leafs travel south to take on the Florida Panthers.
The club changed up their middle-six forward group at practice on Wednesday. They moved rookie forward Matthew Knies up on a line to skate with John Tavares and William Nylander, while Calle Jarnkrok slotted down to skate on a new-look line that will feature Max Domi and Fraser Minten.
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said going on the road for the next five games gives him a chance to get Matthew Knies some more ice time.
"I think Knies has a lot more to offer us," he said following practice.
Knies signed with the Maple Leafs in April upon the conclusion of his collegiate season with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Toronto's second-round selection (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft) the Arizona native impressed with his presence with his performance during the club's 2023 NHL playoff run. Some of those games included playing with John Tavares, who is excited about the prospect of skating with him again on Thursday.
"It’s just amazing how physically mature and dominant he can be at his age. He still hasn’t played 10 games yet," Tavares said. "You can see his ability to make a play. Soft hands. We obviously think very highly of him here and he has tremendous potential."
Jarnkrok has been used as a defensive stabilizer under Keefe when the coach has shuffled up his lines previously and feels that he can help rookie center Fraser Minten and Max Domi, who has averaged just 12:17 through the club's first three games this season.
"That’s part of it but it’s also Knies. Knies minutes are too low as well," Keefe acknowledged. "It makes perfect sense for us to give it (Jarnkrok on the third line) a try.
The Maple Leafs dropped their first game of the regular season on Monday, a 4-1 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks, a team projected by many to finish near the bottom of the NHL standings.
Before that loss, the Leafs did have some issues defensively but were bolstered by their offense, including Auston Matthews, who scored back-to-back hat tricks to open the year.
The Leafs are currently 13th overall in total expected goals at 53.18 percent, according to NaturalStatTrick.com
Although Knies joined the team late last season, Keefe said it's been a challenge to get new players adjusted to the team's system.
"Players have to find their game individually and I’ve got to help them along with that," he said. "At the same time, you’ve got a lot of guys you’re trying to introduce to get comfortable. All four of our left-wingers are new."
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