The Rookie forward stayed with the Maple Leafs captain when he signed with the club and plans to take residence with him again in 2023-24.

Matthew Knies enjoyed his time staying with John Tavares’ so much that the plan is for him to take up residence at the family home again for the upcoming season.

"He opened his doors again so I think that's the best fit for me," Knies told hosts Nick Alberga and former Maple Leafs forward Jay Rosehill on the Leafs Morning Take podcast.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e892bYeh1w0[/embed]

Knies joined the Maple Leafs last season with three regular-season games on the schedule shortly after completing his NCAA career with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. With those games being on the road and having joined the team so late in the season, the Maple Leafs captain offered up his basement to Knies. 

"That stint with him was awesome," Knies added. "It was a pretty chaotic household when they had the new baby but I loved every second of it. They took such good care of me. Supported me so much."

Knies' first year with the Maple Leafs came to an abrupt end when he was injured in Game 2 of the club's second-round series with the Florida Panthers. The 20-year-old Knies was thrown onto the ice by Florida's Sam Bennett and sustained a concussion. He told Alberga and Rosehill that he has fully recovered and began training this past week. 

The Arizona native was also thrilled about the Maple Leafs' acquisition of Shane Doan, who was named Special Advisor to GM Brad Treliving last week. Knies is best friends with Doan's son Josh and Shane had been Matthew's hockey coach since he was a kid.

Doan revealed in a news conference last week that Knies was the one who presented him with a '23' Maple Leafs jersey. The number signifies the year Doan joined the organization.

Knies has been training with Matthews in Scottsdale, Arizona as both players prepare for the upcoming season.

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