Insider Drops Latest Update on Matthew Knies Extension Talks With Maple Leafs

The Leafs & pending RFA Matthew Knies are on course to come up with a long-term extension

With the almost inevitable departure of Mitch Marner this summer, the most pressing need for the Toronto Maple Leafs has become getting breakout forward, and pending restricted free agent, Matthew Knies signed to an extension. The Leafs want to get something done as soon as possible, to fend off any potential offer sheets.

According to insider Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast on Monday, the two sides seem to be in a good place, and there hopefully won't be any surprises.

I think the Maple Leafs are well aware of the possibility of an offer sheet. But I don't believe they let it get there. I think around the (trade) deadline... I think there were some preliminary conversations about what an extension would look like, so I think they kind of know where they're going here.

From the talking points that both sides have put out there all season, it sounds like 'where they're going' is into a several-year marriage with each other.

The Maple Leafs want to get a Knies extension done before offer sheet season

"When Matthew Knies says, first and foremost, he wants to be a Maple Leaf, I think he's telling the truth and I think the Maple Leafs believe that. So, their goal here will be to get this done before an offer sheet even becomes a reality. I think both sides want to get it done. But, again, it's grind time. It doesn't mean nobody's going to grind here. Both sides are going to grind, but, again, I start off with the opinion that there is a will on both sides to extend Knies long-term."

There are five weeks to go before rival teams can start talking offer sheets with RFAs, so there's time to hammer it out, but as Friedman notes, neither side will waste any time in trying to get something done.

Knies broke through big-time this year in his sophomore season with the Leafs, registering 29 goals, nearly doubling his rookie year output, while adding 29 assists for 58 points in 78 games. He also handed out 182 hits.

Knies' new contract will quite likely come in close to the $8M AAV mark

AFP Analytics projects Knies coming in at a seven-year deal at $7.2 million AAV. Rumors have been that the Knies camp wants to go shorter than that, but the Leafs would love to lock in their burgeoning power forward for as long as they can. It's thought that the final number on AAV will be somewhere north of $7M and quite likely closer to, or above, the $8M mark.