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Why the Maple Leafs training camp trip to Arizona is important to Matthew Knies

Toronto's top-line left winger agrees with coach that training camp has lacked consistency and perhaps hometown vibes will help.

Published Sep 24, 2026  •  Last updated 7 hours ago  •  3 minute read

Matthew Knies (right), Darren Raddysh and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky at the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp in Etobicoke. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun

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Matthew Knies is glad to sleep in his own bed this weekend, while coach Jim Hiller hopes the trip home to Arizona brings him out of hockey hibernation. 

Hiller has opined his first-line left winger has more to give at this training camp, following that up Thursday morning with a pre-practice video session and 1-on 1 chat before the Leafs flew to Phoenix for its three-day team bonding retreat. 

Knies didn’t disagree with his new boss, but thinks the kinks will be worked out the more that he, Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic get comfortable as a line and real shooting starts next week.    

“My game kind of excels when there’s a lot more predictability, more north-south, playing hard and that’s what you find in regular season,” Knies said. “I’m just trying to get my feet under me, good puck touches and play to my strengths. 

“This is a shorter pre-season, so I want to get better as fast as possible. Regular season is a different beast and that’s just where I play my best.” 

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Knies was among many Leafs battling ailments last season, in his case knee-related issues that restricted his power-forward presence with Matthews, who also was ailing at times before season-ending knee surgery.

It also was harder than expected for the club to replace Mitch Marner’s prolific points on their right side. 

Roslovic, a long-time friend of Matthews, has a brighter future there, though Hiller gave Gavin McKenna a couple of shifts in Knies’ place in Wednesday’s 6-1 win over Ottawa and in Knies’ power-play spot, during which Roslovic scored. 

That didn’t discourage Knies, who noted he has served on both first and second units, especially when Marner was around to be a fourth forward with the top group. 

Hiller said that rather than highlight some flaws in Knies’ play, their video work — with fresh images from the Ottawa game — identified many positives. About to turn 24, Knies has used a 232-pound frame to bull his way to 67 NHL goals in three seasons.

“He was skating back, lifting sticks, winning puck battles,” Hiller said of Wednesday’s data. “Sometimes you get rewarded on the score sheet with those, sometimes you don’t. He led our team in those areas and he can build on that.” 

Knies will be checking in with his parents, while he Matthews will be busy hosts as the Leafs arrive in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area.

There’s plenty of golf, team dinners and open houses at both Chez Matthews and the home that general manager John Chayka kept after leaving the Coyotes six years ago.

A Saturday practice will be at Mullett Arena, the Coyotes’ last rink before they bolted for Utah, then the Leafs come home to prep for the Montreal Canadiens in Tuesday’s season opener.  

“This time of year, it’s still pretty dang hot there (the mid-30’s all weekend), I don’t think the guys know that,” Knies said with a laugh. “Auston’s place has a good setup, a little sports court (he and Knies have a summer tennis rivalry). This is a unique opportunity for the guys, to form some camaraderie.”

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This is a big deal for Matthews, who has wanted to show another side of his captaincy, in the manner of predecessors John Tavares and Mats Sundin as an off-ice influencer. 

“I was pretty excited,” Matthews said when the Arizona option was selected by management ahead of the traditional pre-season destination of Muskoka and suggestions of flying to remote Wisconsin or somewhere on the Eastern seaboard.  

“A lot of the newer guys on the team are some of the chattier guys in the room. It’s been a lot of fun and we just want to continue that momentum (this weekend), build those relationships.” 

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby      

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