Matthew Knies has quickly become a fan favourite in Toronto. For his solid two-way game, and his passion for Leafs hockey, Leafs fans quickly came to love the former second-round pick.

There’s always been talk in Toronto of the LW1 position. Before, it was current Oiler Zach Hyman. Now, it’s Matthew Knies. At first glance, they are different players; Hyman is a 50 goal scorer. But when you take a closer look, they’re more alike than you would think.

Matthew Knies is a hard working, powerful two-way forward, who can chip in offensively beside linemates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, or on his own.

Hyman is a true power-forward, with good defensive skills as well as a strong offensive game. When in Toronto, Hyman was a fan-favourite for his ability to never shy away from a puck battle, and how he is able to keep himself in the play.

The same can be said with Matthew Knies. He is a young and strong forward, who is still growing in Toronto’s system. He fits perfectly beside Matthews and Marner as the perfect complimenting piece to the goal scorer and the playmaker.

When Hyman truly got his recognition in Toronto, he was set up alongside the stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, being the hard-nosed player that would battle to get the puck for his linemates.

Matthew Knies serves that exact same role, and while being more skilled than Hyman, Knies is able to chip in on his own, whether it’s with a goal of his own, or a play made off of his stick.

Knies spoke earlier this year on Hyman and how he is able to learn from Hyman’s style of hockey:

“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.”

Alone, Hyman is not a 50-goal scorer. Hyman may have been one of the luckiest players in the entire NHL when he scored 50, whereas if he didn’t have a playmaker like Connor McDavid. Like Knies, Hyman’s work ethic and his rough style of hockey is valuable, but you can only get so far when you aren’t a goal scorer. That’s where I believe Knies is able to separate himself from Hyman, as I feel strongly that Knies is capable of handling his own business while being a true 30-goal scorer in this league.

When Hyman left Toronto, he signed a 7-year, $38.5M deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Personally, I think Matthew Knies and his style of play can exceed that dollar amount. There’s an argument to be made that if Knies cannot produce on his own then he isn’t particularly worth that kind of money, as you can fill his role with a cheaper player. That’s where I think Knies can prove people wrong; using his skill to excel without Matthews and Marner.

As Toronto continues to work hard to become capable of competing for the Stanley Cup, Matthew Knies emerges as a pivotal piece of that puzzle. Like Hyman, his relentless work ethic, ability to grind in the corners, and willingness to do the dirty work mirror so much of what made Zach Hyman such a valuable part of the Leafs’ core during his tenure.

Knies isn’t just the next Hyman — he’s evolving the blueprint. As Toronto strives for playoff success, players like Knies, who combine skill, grit, and hockey IQ, will be immensely important in building the Maple Leafs into a championship-caliber team. If he continues on this path, he could be the perfect complement to Toronto’s elite core, just as Hyman once was — or perhaps even more.

The future in Toronto looks bright, and Matthew Knies is already becoming one of Toronto’s most valuable players.