Matthew Knies
A powerful, rising power forward whose physical style and clutch playoff performances quickly made him indispensable to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Born 2002 (age 24)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: October 17·Generation Z
Biography
Matthew Knies took a road less traveled to the NHL spotlight, honing his game not in the Canadian major junior circuit but with the US National Team Development Program and the University of Minnesota. There, his blend of imposing size, soft hands, and a net-front fearlessness made him a collegiate force. The Toronto Maple Leafs saw a perfect fit, selecting him in the second round of the 2021 draft. He didn't linger in the minors. After a brief but dominant NCAA finish, he jumped directly into the NHL playoffs, where his physical, straight-line game immediately translated. Knies isn't a flashy perimeter player; he's a modern power forward built for the trenches, quickly becoming a fan favorite for his willingness to battle in the hard areas and his knack for timely goals.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Matthew was born in 2002, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 2002
#1 Movie
Spider-Man
Best Picture
Chicago
#1 TV Show
Friends
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2002Born
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2007Started school
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2015Became a teenager
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Could drive
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2020Could vote
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2023Turned 21
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 24 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made his NHL debut in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring his first goal against the Florida Panthers.
- Won the Big Ten Regular Season championship with the University of Minnesota in 2023.
- Was a finalist for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award in 2022.
- Represented the United States at the World Junior Championships, winning a bronze medal in 2023.
Did You Know?
He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, an unconventional hockey hotbed for an NHL power forward.
He played college hockey for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers alongside his brother, Phil Knies.
He was drafted 57th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
He wears jersey number 23 for the Maple Leafs.
“You earn your ice time by going to the hard areas.”
