Maple Leafs, Matthew Knies reportedly ‘far apart’ in contract talks

With the Toronto Maple Leafs in the middle of yet another contract dilemma with Mitch Marner, plus facing the task of bringing back John Tavares at a reasonable number, the last thing any fan might want to read about is a story about rocky negotiations with a young star. While it’s still too early to deem this a ‘dispute’, it seems like the Maple Leafs are still working out kinks with Matthew Knies on his next deal.

The Leafs Nation’s Nick Alberga reported on Thursday that the two sides weren’t as close as the fanbase may have been hoping for.

With the #NHL Draft just around the corner & July 1st looming, I’m told the Leafs & Matthew Knies are currently far apart in contract talks.

That said, both sides remain optimistic on finding common ground in the coming weeks.

— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) June 19, 2025

Knies just wrapped up a successful sophomore season in which he established himself as a true core member of the Maple Leafs, scoring 29 goals and adding 58 points in 78 games. He also scored five goals and contributed seven points in 13 games in the playoffs.

Throughout the season, Knies repeatedly stated his desire to remain with the Maple Leafs and sidestepped any questions about his negotiations.

“I want to be here. I want to play here. That’s all that matters to me,” Knies said.

The Maple Leafs are hoping to get a contract done with Knies by the time the free agency period opens up on July 1, and if it gets to a point where another team tries to offer sheet him, the Leafs will almost certainly match whatever the offer is. At this point, the negotiations likely have more to do with whether they can get Knies locked up long term or if they might have to settle for a bridge deal.

The former would likely be preferable for the Maple Leafs, but in the end, it will come down to whether the 2021 second-round pick is more concerned with maximizing his earnings or simply doing whatever it takes to stay in Toronto. It would certainly resonate with the fanbase more if the latter prevailed, but it’s in his rights to negotiate a deal that works for him, so at this point, all parties are hoping that they can work out a deal that suits both sides.

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