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/ Men's Hockey
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/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Knies off to Toronto after Signing NHL Deal
4/9/2023 5:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
More than a point per game with the 'U'
MINNEAPOLIS - Matthew Knies of the Golden Gophers men's hockey team signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday and will forego his final two years of college eligibility. He helped guide Minnesota to back-to-back Big Ten Conference championships and consecutive trips to the NCAA Frozen Four and will join Toronto immediately.
Knies was a second-round pick (57th overall) of the Maple Leafs in the 2021 Entry Draft and made 73 appearances over two seasons with the Maroon and Gold. A Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalist and Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 2022-23, Knies proved time and time again why he was one of the nation's best players. He utilized his unique blend of size and speed on the way to a career-best 42 points via 21 goals and 21 assists, including an NCAA-best, seven game-winning goals. Two of those game winners came during a road sweep of top-10 Penn State in late February to land Big Ten First Star of the Week honors.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native hit the back of the net in 19 games played and closed the year ranked eighth nationally totaling 21 goals, helping the team lead the nation at 4.2 goals per game. Minnesota owned a 17-2-0 record when he had a goal this season and he recorded two multi-goal outings. Knies generated all but four of his 42 total points (21 goals and 21 assists) in Maroon and Gold wins and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team as a sophomore after landing on the second team in his freshman season. He recorded 12 multi-point games with four, three-point efforts for the Gophers in 2022-23.
Knies averaged more than a point per game in his two-year Minnesota career, totaling 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists) during 73 contests. He tallied 33 points as a freshman and was a dominant force late in the year when he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Worcester Regional and earned a spot on the NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team.
He was part of the most prolific line in college hockey during the 2022-23 campaign with Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud as the trio combined for 152 points. The entire line was held off the scoresheet in just five games played this season, but only three times over the final four months of the campaign.
Knies was a second-round pick (57th overall) of the Maple Leafs in the 2021 Entry Draft and made 73 appearances over two seasons with the Maroon and Gold. A Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalist and Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 2022-23, Knies proved time and time again why he was one of the nation's best players. He utilized his unique blend of size and speed on the way to a career-best 42 points via 21 goals and 21 assists, including an NCAA-best, seven game-winning goals. Two of those game winners came during a road sweep of top-10 Penn State in late February to land Big Ten First Star of the Week honors.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native hit the back of the net in 19 games played and closed the year ranked eighth nationally totaling 21 goals, helping the team lead the nation at 4.2 goals per game. Minnesota owned a 17-2-0 record when he had a goal this season and he recorded two multi-goal outings. Knies generated all but four of his 42 total points (21 goals and 21 assists) in Maroon and Gold wins and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team as a sophomore after landing on the second team in his freshman season. He recorded 12 multi-point games with four, three-point efforts for the Gophers in 2022-23.
Knies averaged more than a point per game in his two-year Minnesota career, totaling 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists) during 73 contests. He tallied 33 points as a freshman and was a dominant force late in the year when he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Worcester Regional and earned a spot on the NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team.
He was part of the most prolific line in college hockey during the 2022-23 campaign with Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud as the trio combined for 152 points. The entire line was held off the scoresheet in just five games played this season, but only three times over the final four months of the campaign.
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