Matthew
Knies
L · CBJ · Offensive · Below average
- PAL
- 30
- WAR
- -0.4
- Value
- 13
- PTS
- 66
2025-26№ 567 / 615
Matthew Knies (Columbus Blue Jackets) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Matthew Knies
#89LPlays: Left wing · 5% of faceoffs
Columbus Blue Jackets
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 103 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : October 16, 2002 · Phoenix, United States
Drafted : 2021 · TOR · round 2, pick #57
Contract : $7,750,000 · 2025-26 → 2030-31 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA · Signing bonus $6,000,000M-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 15 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| 2025-26 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 79 | 23 | 43 | 66 | 29 |
| 2024-25 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 29 | 29 | 58 | 43 |
| 2023-24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 45 |
| 2022-23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 255 | 69 | 98 | 167 | 123 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 13 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| 2023-24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Playoff totals | 27 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 12 | |
Matthew Knies: our analysis
2025-26 season: 79 GP, 23 G, 43 A, 66 PTS, -30 +/-, 18:48 TOI. WAR -0.4 (567th of 615) · PAL 30, below average.
In 2025-26, Matthew Knies, 24, posts a PAL Rating of 30 out of 100 (below average), and his WAR of -0.4 ranks 567th among 615 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: offense (78, well above average), shooting (76, well above average) and creation (68, above average). On the other hand, possession (2, among the weakest in the league) and penalty kill (5, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: penalties (+0.9); his biggest cost: finishing (-2.8).
A marked decline: his PAL was 77 in 2024-25, against 30 now; his WAR went from 1.4 to -0.4.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 13 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Matthew Knies's story
Growing up in Arizona, Matthew Knies took an unconventional route to high-level hockey but moved quickly through junior ranks. He spent two full seasons with the Tri-City Storm in the USHL, registering 31 goals and 56 assists over 90 games—numbers that helped place him on NHL radars ahead of the 2021 draft.
Selected 57th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021, Knies opted to develop in college with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. His freshman year (2021–22) produced 10 goals and 17 assists in 29 games, earning him unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and a finalist spot for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In 2022–23 he moved into a top line alongside Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud, scoring 21 goals and adding 21 assists in 40 games; he captured Big Ten Player of the Year honours and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
After the Gophers reached the NCAA championship game in 2023, Knies concluded a college career that totaled 36 goals and 39 assists in 73 games and signed a three-year entry-level deal with Toronto on April 9, 2023. He made his NHL debut the next day and was quickly woven into the Maple Leafs' playoff push—recording a primary assist on John Tavares's series-clinching goal that ended Toronto's long series drought. Knies scored his first NHL goal on May 2, 2023, against Sergei Bobrovsky and the Panthers, then missed time after suffering a concussion the following game.
His NHL résumé continued to grow: on December 16, 2023, he recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick in a 7–0 win over Pittsburgh, and on January 4, 2025, he notched his first career hat-trick. On September 28, 2026, Knies was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of a multi-player deal. On the ice he mixes goal scoring touch with physical engagement, able to contribute as a finisher, a playmaker and a hard-nosed presence on his line.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 18:13
- PP TOI/GP
- 3:13
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:07
- Pts/GP
- 0.47
- EV points
- 5
- Hits
- 26
- Blocks
- 2
- Takeaways
- 4
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 48.3 %
- Off. zone starts
- 34.8 %
- Faceoffs
- 50.0 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
61between 37 and 85 (80% range)
- Goals
- 20
- Assists
- 41
- Games
- 81
So far: 7 pts in 15 games. The team has played 15 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.82 pts per game (last season: 0.84).
Three straight seasons of growth. Since 2018, of 97 players in that spot, 23 kept improving the next season; on average, their pace fell back to 90% of their best season.
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Stable
- Points per game: 0.44 in 23-24, 0.84 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 77 → 30
Outlook, age included
↗ Slightly upAge 23: usually still improving
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 79 %
80
Very good
- SK
- Skating
- 67
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 80
- Confidence 83 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 83
- Confidence 75 %
- DU
- Durability
- 77
- Confidence 73 %
- CK
- Checking
- 82
- Confidence 83 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 81
- Confidence 60 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 75
- Confidence 83 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 80
- Confidence 79 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 80
- Confidence 79 %
- DF
- Defense
- 67
- Confidence 76 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 71
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating67
- Top speed (35 %)36 · 75
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)4.887 · 72
- Distance /60 (20 %)15.5 · 61
- Speed consistency (15 %)34.1 · 57
ST — Strength80
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)3.284 · 65
- Body mass (50 %)1.46 · 88
EN — Endurance83
- Ice time per game (45 %)16.6 · 83
- Total ice time (20 %)1,409 · 87
- Shift length (15 %)47.6 · 81
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)13.4 · 74
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)3.034 · 83
DU — Durability77
- Share of games played (100 %)0.832 · 77
CK — Checking82
- Hits /60 (70 %)6.877 · 82
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)5.996 · 82
- Season volume (10 %)5.03 · 85
FG — Fighting81
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)1.001 · 81
DI — Discipline75
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.022 · 75
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.684 · 73
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.812 · 77
PA — Passing80
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.84 · 80
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.692 · 87
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.027 · 61
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.444 · 77
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.636 · 82
SC — Scoring80
- Goals /60 (25 %)1.01 · 78
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.906 · 77
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.01 · 72
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.978 · 88
- xG per shot (10 %)0.089 · 96
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)11.4 · 59
DF — Defense67
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.012 · 72
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.074 · 70
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.776 · 64
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.185 · 48
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.444 · 77
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)60.3 · 65
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.386 · 77
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience71
- Career regular-season games (65 %)77
- Career playoff games (25 %)63
- NHL seasons (10 %)55
OV — Overall80
- SC · Scoring (28 %)80
- PA · Passing (22 %)80
- DF · Defense (18 %)67
- SK · Skating (12 %)67
- EN · Endurance (8 %)83
- DI · Discipline (5 %)75
- ST · Strength (4 %)80
- CK · Checking (3 %)82
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 80 | 67 | 80 | 67 |
| 2024-25 | 81 | 69 | 83 | 73 |
| 2023-24 | 73 | 63 | 74 | 76 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
-0.4
wins above replacement
567 of 615
PAL Rating
30/ 100
Performance · Below average
322 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
13/ 100
Very poor return
7.75 M$ · expected PAL 72
ProfileOffensiveValue comes mostly from offense
- Offense
- 62
- Defense
- 11
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 78
- Creation
- 68
- Shooting
- 76
- Possession
- 2
- Defense
- 26
- Discipline
- 61
- Power play
- 58
- Penalty kill
- 5
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | TOR | -0.4 | 30 | 13 | 7.75 M$ |
| 2024-25 | TOR | 1.4 | 77 | 90 | 0.93 M$ |
| 2023-24 | TOR | 0.6 | 33 | 49 | 0.93 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
94/ 100
Elite
better than 94% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
98/ 100
Elite
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
45/ 100
Average
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 24 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 92
- Shot selection
- 98
- Penalties drawn
- 65
- Puck management
- 36
Defense
- Takeaways
- 57
- Discipline
- 67
- Safe zone exits
- 18
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | TOR | 94 | 98 | 45 |
| 2024-25 | TOR | 72 | 95 | 22 |
| 2023-24 | TOR | 43 | 77 | 21 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.4
wins above replacement
-2.0 to 0.7 — 90% interval
567 of 615 forwards
-2.3 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -2.1
- EV defense
- -0.8
- Power play
- -0.5
- Penalty kill
- -0.6
- Shooting
- -2.8
- Penalties
- +0.9
- Average → replacement
- +3.7
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | TOR | 79 | -0.4 | -2.0 to 0.7 | 567/615 |
| 2024-25 | TOR | 74 | 1.4 | 0.0 to 3.1 | 112/596 |
| 2023-24 | TOR | 80 | 0.6 | -0.3 to 1.5 | 215/608 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 3 | -0.1 | -0.2 to -0.0 | 458/617 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 141.3 km/h83rd percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 35.0 km/h43rd percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 1337th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 44.5 %76th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 64.0 km60th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 5.05 km68th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 41.0 %48th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.3 %60th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 37.2 %78th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2153rd percentile | 254th percentile | 9.5 %29th percentile |
| High danger | 1174th percentile | 157th percentile | 9.1 %20th percentile |
| Mid range | 550th percentile | 177th percentile | 20.0 %76th percentile |
| Long range | 153rd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
🔥 2-game point streak
BUF
DAL
COL
CAR
PHI
VGK
TOR
MIN
NYR
FLA
STL
PIT
UTAMatthew Knies: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Matthew Knies have in 2026-27?
Matthew Knies has 2 goals and 7 points (5 assists) in 15 games in 2026-27.
How old is Matthew Knies?
Matthew Knies is 24 years old: he was born on October 17, 2002.
How tall is Matthew Knies, and how much does he weigh?
Matthew Knies is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 227 lb (103 kg).
Where is Matthew Knies from?
United States: Matthew Knies was born in Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
What team does Matthew Knies play for?
Matthew Knies plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL, at L, wearing number 89.
Is Matthew Knies injured?
No: Matthew Knies is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Matthew Knies?
Matthew Knies produced -0.4 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 567th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 30 out of 100: below average for his position.
How much does Matthew Knies make?
Matthew Knies earns $7.8M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 13 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Matthew Knies's contract end?
Matthew Knies's contract runs through the 2030-31 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Matthew Knies overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 13 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Matthew Knies a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 567th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Matthew Knies getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 77 in 2024-25 to 30 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Matthew Knies played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Matthew Knies has 3 points (0 goals, 3 assists).
What are Matthew Knies's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Matthew Knies has 255 games, 69 goals, 98 assists and 167 points. His best season: 2025-26, with 66 points in 79 games.
Where was Matthew Knies drafted?
Matthew Knies was drafted 57th overall (round 2) by Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021.
Is Matthew Knies better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.56 points per game at home (5 in 9 games) and 0.33 on the road (2 in 6 games).
How does Matthew Knies perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Matthew Knies has 27 games and 14 points in his career. His pace (0.52 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.65).
Which player is most similar to Matthew Knies?
Jimmy Snuggerud: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Jimmy Snuggerud's page →Is Matthew Knies a good fantasy pick?
Yes, a solid pick: our projection has him at 61 points in 2026-27, or 0.75 points per game.
Does Matthew Knies have siblings?
Yes: his older brother Phillip Knies (played ice hockey for Miami University and Bentley University).
What is Matthew Knies's nationality?
Matthew Knies is American. Internationally: United States — represented the U.S. junior team at the 2022 World Junior Championships (appeared in one game; tournament cancelled), named to the U.S. senior roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics (announced January 13, 2022).
What awards has Matthew Knies won?
Unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2021–22 season) ; Big Ten Player of the Year (2022–23).
Where did Matthew Knies play before turning pro?
Played two full seasons for the Tri-City Storm (USHL); played collegiately for the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons).
How many points is Matthew Knies projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 61 points in 81 games in 2026-27 (37 to 85 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Columbus Blue Jackets teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)