"Berube: Even going back to last year. I am not really fond of between-the-legs passes, haha, but it was OT. He does see the ice and has the capability of making plays. He is an underrated passer, for sure. A lot of this comes from him getting first touches on a lot of pucks on the forecheck and in the offensive zone, whether he muscles his way through somebody or strips them of the puck. Now, he gets assists that way. It is really important. Other guys come in and get the puck, but he has touched it, so he gets an assist sometimes there. He's also at the net. Again, he is getting those touches around there, and it is where he makes his living. A lot of the time, he doesn't score the goal, but he gets a touch on it, and it goes to somebody. Those are big assists. It is not always a really nice play. I call them workmanlike assists."
"Berube: Yeah, by going to the net. It was great that he got a goal through the simplicity of being hard at the net and scoring those greasy goals. Those are important goals, for sure."
"Practice Lines - Oct. 31 #Leafs lines during practice Oct. 31/25 Knies-Matthews-NylanderMaccelli-Tavares-McMannJoshua-Roy-Cowan Blais-Domi-JarnkrokExtras rotating: Robertson, Laughton RIelly-CarloBenoit-McCabeOEL-TanevMermis-Myers StolarzPrimeau@BodogCA pic.twitter.com/h2Zz3gfFJB - David Alter (@dalter) October 31, 2025"
Matthew Knies has 10 assists in 11 games and has improved as a playmaker. Knies generates assists by getting first touches on forechecks and in the offensive zone and by working around the net. Many of his assists are gritty, workmanlike plays rather than flashy passes. Sammy Blais scored and assisted by going to the net and finishing greasy goals. Practice lines show William Nylander on the top line with Matthews and Knies. Scott Laughton is rotating as an extra. Calle Jarnkrok is on the Blais-Domi line, and Chris Tanev is paired with OEL. Steven Lorentz does not appear on the listed practice lines.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]