Auston Matthews is happy to see his Toronto Maple Leafs linemate Matthew Knies at USA Hockey’s orientation camp.
"I think it's well deserved," Matthews said this week while attending the Hockey Night in Brampton charity event as one of the team captains. "He’s a great player, and he’s still coming into his own. He's only going to get better".
Knies was one of 44 American players invited to the camp, which will be held in Plymouth, Michigan, from August 26-27. There will be no on-ice activity during that time.
A Long Shot for the Olympic Roster?
While Matthews' invitation was assured—he was already named to the team that will compete in the Olympics for the USA as one of the first six players—Knies is a bit of a long shot to make the team right now. This is especially true since he wasn't part of USA Hockey's contingent for the 4 Nations Face-Off last February.
Still, Knies had a strong 2024-25 season, recording a career-high 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games. His play earned the power forward a new six-year contract extension that pays him an average of $7.75 million per season.
Matthews knows his teammate is ready for the moment.
"I know he's really looking forward to the opportunity," Matthews said of Knies. "It’ll be a good time for everybody to just get together and be in that kind of atmosphere with a bunch of other elite players".
Knies already has Olympics experience, having represented the USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics when NHL players were not permitted to participate. He recorded two points (a goal and an assist) in four games during the tournament.
The Matthews Connection
If Knies ends up performing well and the USA is looking for a linemate that will unlock the most out of Matthews, it might make sense for them to have both of them on the team.That will be up to Knies, though, to play well enough to at least force USA’s hand.
FAQs
What is the USA Hockey Orientation Camp?
The camp is a gathering of elite American players to build chemistry and a foundation for the upcoming Olympic games. This year, it's being held in Plymouth, Michigan, from August 26-27.
What are the chances Knies makes the Olympic team?
Knies is currently considered a long shot for the team, especially since he didn't participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. However, a strong performance at the orientation camp could change things.
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