Auston Matthews’ Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into a new NHL season with one major difference from last year: Mitch Marner is no longer on the roster. Despite his move to the Golden Knights, there’s still plenty of belief within the organization that the team can make a strong run this season.
Matthew Knies is a key piece in Craig Berube’s system and, while he acknowledges that Marner’s departure is a significant loss, he also trusts the moves made by the front office to fill that void.
In a recent conversation with The Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby, the left winger was clear when discussing what lies ahead for his team, emphasizing that his teammates have all the talent needed to make a serious impact.
“It’ll be a bit different without Mitch, but the acquisitions we’ve made have been looking good,” Knies said. “I don’t know what we’ll put together at the start of the season, but we have a lot of great players on our team.
“Any way that they (Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube) do it, hopefully we find a way that works and gives us (long-term) success.”
Filling the void left by Marner
Replacing a player of Mitch Marner’s caliber won’t be an easy task for Toronto. Craig Berube will have to evaluate all available options to manage the transition, though Knies believes the solution might already be within the roster.
Making a new addition this offseason could provide an answer — but so could giving even more responsibility to William Nylander. “Willy is pretty dynamic,” Knies said. “That wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.”
Focusing on what’s next
With a few commitments still ahead and preparations for the upcoming NHL season underway, Matthew Knies is focused on what’s to come — something he admitted will feel strange without Marner in the locker room.
“I’m looking forward to camp and thus get to enjoy these last two weeks off because we want to go as far as possible,” he said. “Without Mitch … it’s going to obviously be different. Definitely weird in the locker room not seeing him at first.”