Matthew Knies was preparing for his season debut with the Maple Leafs, which was to be on Sept. 29. Those plans changed when Knies learned that offseason trade rumors finally culminated in a last-second deal to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Despite months of speculation, all signs pointed to Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka retaining the young forward as he played through the preseason with his former team. Knies had done his best to block out the offseason noise heading into the regular season, when Chayka spotted the opportunity to acquire disgruntled Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko. Knies was the primary piece of the return. The 24-year-old had to adjust to a new organization with little time to spare, while navigating the shock of an unexpected move.
“I feel like it’s kind of been hanging over my head for a little bit here,” Knies told reporters after arriving in Columbus. “But I guess one day before opening day here, I was pretty shocked.”
So far in his time with the Blue Jackets, when the team’s offense is effective, Knies looks like the star he needs to be to replace Marchenko. But when the rest of the lineup struggles to score, he disappears along with them. Knies’ inconsistent performance needs to stabilize for the Blue Jackets to become playoff contenders this season.
Early Dividends
After the trade was announced, the Blue Jackets shone a spotlight on their new addition. Knies was placed on the first line alongside former Big Ten foes Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson, filling in the spot left vacant by Marchenko. Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness envisioned Knies as a key piece in their core and of their physical play style, expecting him to contribute more speed and skill than Columbus had throughout their roster. Fantilli also offered high praise for his past college opponent after learning of the acquisition.
“He was a moose in college,” Fantilli said. “In the NHL, he’s been a stud too.”
Fantilli expressed his excitement about playing alongside Knies, while Knies himself focused on taking advantage of his fresh start in a less hostile environment than the one he faced in Toronto.
Knies repaid the Blue Jackets for their hospitality by injecting a shot of adrenaline into the lineup in his first appearance. Just three days after learning of the move, the forward scored two goals and added an assist to tie Artemi Panarin’s three-point performance in 2017 for the highest-scoring debut in franchise history. After the game, the forward shifted credit to his new team for providing him with an environment to succeed.
“These guys made it pretty easy on me to just be comfortable,” Knies said. “Not much to stress about, I just play my game.”
Knies was quickly embraced by the market in Columbus, with his image displayed on the window of Nationwide Arena after his first appearance in a Blue Jackets uniform. Unfortunately, that honeymoon phase didn’t last beyond the first couple of days of the season.
Down in the Slumps
After adding a second assist in his second game, Knies has yet to record another point as Columbus’ entire lineup struggled in the following five games. He kept pace against the Penguins, recording three shots on goal, before slumping across the board in the games since, including a scoreless back-to-back over the weekend. The slump left the 3-4-0 Blue Jackets in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, with limited offensive momentum to build on.
Knies spoke after Columbus’ 7-3 loss to Florida, attributing his struggles to the process of learning his new teammates and working to get comfortable in new surroundings. Despite the team’s difficulties, Knies continues to express confidence in his teammates as they look to flip the script for a struggling franchise.
“They put pressure on each other because they believe in this locker room; they believe there’s a winning team in here,” Knies said.
What to Expect
Columbus fans have yet to see the full package that made Knies a fan favorite in Toronto. Knies is on pace for 46 points following his five-game scoreless stretch, significantly below his career average. He’s also been less physical, with just nine hits in his first seven games, carried by a four-hit performance against the New York Rangers on Saturday. Knies averaged over two hits per game for the Maple Leafs, while acting as an enforcer for a less physical lineup. That physicality was one of the key selling points for Columbus as Bowness equips an offensive system that thrives when a physical forward group wreaks havoc on the net front. Knies acknowledged the play style when reflecting on past games against the Blue Jackets, describing playing against them as “always hell.” As he finds his place in that system, his checking totals need to rise so the plan can be effective.
Lastly, even if the chemistry doesn’t form quickly enough to turn around a rough start to the season, acquiring Knies was inherently a long-term move. Both Knies and Fantilli are signed through the 2030-31 season, with Kent Johnson due for an extension this offseason. While the rest of the lineup may not have a clear identity, Columbus consolidated its strength- a powerful forecheck, -into a controllable core to build around. But with the struggles the team has had, Bowness has a decision to make on whether Knies can remain on the first line without swift improvement.
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