TSN SportsCentre Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who held a media availability at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla., on Monday. The Florida Panthers held a full morning skate ahead of tonight’s game.
Matthew Knies will make his National Hockey League debut on Monday.
"Actually wasn't the plan initially, but Sam Lafferty in addition to Calle Jarnkrok, is unavailable today so we had to move up his plan," said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. "Great opportunity for him to get right in. It hasn't been ideal circumstances in terms of his travel and even [today] with medicals and all these kind of things, but ideal circumstances passed us by long ago so here we are."
Knies played in the NCAA national championship game on Saturday in Tampa. He travelled back to Minnesota after his Golden Gophers lost a heartbreaker in overtime. Knies then signed an entry-level contract with the Leafs on Sunday before returning to Florida. It's been a whirlwind for the 20-year-old left winger.
"Maybe that's tiring for him and maybe less thinking and less time to worry about things," Keefe said. "Just go out and play and have fun. Our mindset for it is just to give him an opportunity here to get comfortable in the league with as little time as we have left. He's a great prospect and a player we're very excited about. We'll just give him a chance to play and get him as comfortable as possible as quickly as possible."
The Leafs have three regular-season games remaining. Toronto also plays Tuesday in Tampa and Thursday in New York.
Knies will start Monday's game on a line with Noel Acciari and Alex Kerfoot.
"It's important that I try and get him some less difficult match-ups and just allow him to get out there and get comfortable," Keefe explained. "I've got him lined up with Acciari and Kerfoot, two veteran guys that talk a lot and know the structure and are very reliable defensive players. There'll be some movement there with 11 forwards tonight."
Lafferty is "unlikely" to play on Tuesday, per Keefe.
"Just something tightened up after practice yesterday and through travel," the coach explained.
Jarnkrok skated on Monday morning for the first time since a nagging issue flared up during last Thursday's game in Boston.