While the future of Mitch Marner and John Tavares will get a great deal of attention because they will be unrestricted free agents this off-season, the Maple Leafs got some good news about Matthew Knies, who emerged this season as a fan favourite and an important player.
Knies said he doesn’t want to leave Toronto.
鈥淚 want to be here. I want to play here,鈥 he said.
That’s important because Knies is a restricted free agent July 1, with fewer rights. The team can control his destiny. But he does have the right to sign a deal with another team, one the Leafs could match. The offer sheet is a way to get more money if there’s an impasse with the Leafs.
But it didn’t sound like Knies wanted to go that route when he was asked聽if he would consider an offer sheet.
Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner and his teammates met the media following their playoff exit. The star forward, who has been a lightning rod for criticism durning his 海角社区官网tenure for a string of post-season failures, can become an unrestricted free agent July. Leafs centre John Tavares, meanwhile, said he's 鈥渧ery optimistic鈥 on his own return after speaking with management. (May 20, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
鈥淚’ll answer that the way I answered the last question. I want to be here. I want to play here. That’s all that matters to me,鈥 he said.
Knies would not reveal the injury he suffered in Game 6 against Florida and played through in Game 7. It was believed to be a bone bruise that was a result of a collision with Aaron Ekblad.
鈥淚 just wasn’t really 100 per cent healthy,鈥 Knies said. 鈥淣ot going to disclose what it was, but it almost prevented me from playing the way I wanted to play.”
Matthew won’t reveal injury
Leafs captain Auston Matthews declined to reveal what specifically ailed him but he made no secret that this was the most physically challenging season of his career.
鈥淚t was tough physically,鈥 Matthews said. 鈥淣o need to get into like the specifics. But I got injured in training camp and obviously wasn’t feeling great throughout the first month or so. Took some time off, went to Germany, did all these things to try to feel better.鈥
He declined to detail what the injury was but said he won’t need surgery.
鈥淕oing through my own process and treatment, I’m really confident I’ll be back 100 per cent. There’s nothing to worry about.鈥
It was believed to be related to his back.
A Tanev reunion?
Chris Tanev, who has never played with his younger brother Brandon, jokingly said he’s not sure he wants to.
鈥淲e’d probably argue a lot,鈥 said Tanev, who has five more years left on his contract.
Brandon Tanev, of the Winnipeg Jets, is an unrestricted free agent.
鈥淚 don’t know if the team wants him to come here and I don’t know if he wants to come here,鈥 Chris Tanev said. 鈥淭hat is something that will be addressed down the road if that ever comes up.鈥
Tanev said he was injured this season where his sternum meets his collar bone, taking a hit from Boston’s John Beecher on Feb. 25. He missed six games.
Stolarz not mad at Bennett
Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz said he holds no ill will against Florida centre Sam Bennett after suffering a concussion in Game 1, resulting in Joseph Woll taking over the net.
鈥淚 don’t think there was any malicious intent on his part,鈥 Stolarz said. 鈥淣ot just Benny but that entire team, they play hard. It was just one of those things. You know, it’s the playoffs.鈥
He said Bennett called to apologize. Stolarz was back on the bench for Game 7, backing up Woll.
鈥淛ust an unfortunate incident,鈥 Stolarz said. 鈥淛ust caught me in a bad spot. And I had to go through the steps to get healthy.鈥
Pacioretty’s uncertain future
Max Pacioretty, an unrestricted free agent on July 1, sounded unsure about whether he would play next season.
鈥淭his year was very difficult for me, being away from my family,鈥 said the 36-year-old Pacioretty, who is from Connecticut. 鈥淪o I’m really excited to just get home and be with them and talk to them about what’s next in life. In terms of playing, that’s difficult to answer.鈥
After coming back from two Achilles surgeries, he missed most of this season with an injury he described as 鈥渕id- to upper-lower body.鈥
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