Matthew Knies' mom Michaela pens an uplifting message after her son's admission about dip in performance

Matthew Knies rejoined the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup after missing two games due to injury. The 22-year-old winger was sidelined following a hit from Zach Whitecloud that caused his head to hit the ice.

Knies made an immediate impact in his first game back, recording a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 30. However, his performance has since slowed, with just two goals and three assists in 14 December games.

Matthew Knies acknowledged his recent struggles in an interview with The Athletic.

"My game has dipped. It’s definitely not as physical as I want it to be," Knies said. It’s not an easy thing to come back from. You have to find energy in different ways — little things that get you out of bed in the morning and excited to come to the rink."

"I think I just need to mentally dial in on the little things I’ve been lacking. I just haven’t been as tough to play against."

Knies’ mother, Michaela, showed her support in response to his statement, commenting:

“Great year Matthew!!! Your biggest fan, mom.”

Matthew Knies has faced the grind of an 82-game NHL season before. During his first full NHL season in 2023-24, he experienced similar challenges, including a brief stint on the fourth line.

Craig Berube encourages Matthew Knies to 'get more involved' to improve physical play

St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube has been assisting Knies in regaining his form by reviewing video clips with him during practice. The focus has been on encouraging the young winger to play with greater physicality and energy.

“He’s got to get more involved,” Berube said (via The Hockey News). “That’s really what it boils down to with him.”

Knies has made small adjustments, such as changing his tape job, to help him break out of his slump. Despite contract talks looming, he says they haven’t affected his mindset. Instead, he’s concentrating on improving his defense, simplifying his play and regaining his physical edge.

“I just think I haven’t been as tough as I want,” Knies said. “Working on things like that will make it a little easier and open up a lot of room for me.”

Drafted 53rd in the 2021 NHL draft, Matthew Knies brings speed, skill and size to the Maple Leafs lineup. However, he has struggled recently, scoring only one goal in his last 13 games.

Despite the slump, Knies remains focused on improvement and meeting expectations. He is on track to slightly surpass last season's totals of 15 goals and 20 assists in 80 games.