Sportsnet makes announcement about the Maple Leafs and Matthew Knies after months of uncertainty

Matthew Knies has been named one of the best value contracts in the entire NHL, according to a recent breakdown from Sportsnet's Mike Amato looking at team-friendly deals across the league.

It is a nice bit of validation for a Leafs front office that has taken plenty of heat over the years, and this time credit goes back to former general manager Brad Treliving, who locked Knies up before his stock rose even further.

The power forward spent a good chunk of last season fielding trade speculation, which only intensified once Toronto's front office went through its overhaul.

Fans grew uneasy watching his name pop up in rumor after rumor, but general manager John Chayka has made it clear that moving Knies is not something he is interested in unless an offer comes in that is impossible to turn down.

What makes the contract look even better in hindsight is how Knies performed while banged up.

He set a career high with 66 points across 79 games, all while playing through an injury for most of the year on a Leafs team that struggled badly.

At just 23 years old, there is still plenty of runway for him to get better, and a fully healthy version of Knies on a stronger roster could be a real problem for opponents.

With Easton Cowan already established and Gavin McKenna now added to the mix, Knies is quickly shifting from prospect to veteran presence, even though he is barely into his mid-twenties.

His $7.75 million cap hit already looks like a bargain, and it could age even better as the Leafs build around him.

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