Matthew Knies

Where he fits on Columbus right now.

What he does better or worse than most players at his position.

Every rating, against other forwards.

This season’s 3 games blended with last season’s 79, and pulled toward the average forward by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Toronto Maple Leafs last season. Habits that travel with a player (shooting, hitting, penalties) still use that season in full; setting up goals, finishing, faceoffs and power-play chances depend more on linemates and role, so they lean on it less. We measured how much each one carries over for players who change teams.

Shooting volume, creating his own chances, shot blocking, hardest shot and distance skated compare wingers with wingers, because centers and wingers really differ there. Everything else compares all forwards.

This season’s 3 games only, pulled toward the average forward. Expect wide ranges this early.

Driving play at 5-on-5

• Creating chances
  Along for the rideDrives play

  −0.26 expected goals /60bottom 3%

  −0.03 expected goals /60bottom 37%

• Preventing chances
  Chances against riseShuts it down

  +0.07 expected goals against /60bottom 25%

  −0.07 expected goals against /60top 30%

Scoring

• Shooting volume
  Rarely shootsFires away

  8.3 shot attempts /60bottom 3%

  11.1 shot attempts /60bottom 27%

• Creating his own chances
  Few chancesDangerous

  0.65 expected goals /60bottom 17%

  0.77 expected goals /60top 43%

• Finishing
  Below expectedSniper

  −0.3 goals above expected /100 shotstop 43%

  −0.3 goals above expected /100 shotstop 37%

• Setting up goals
  Rarely sets upPlaymaker

  0.71 first assists /60top 10%

  0.60 first assists /60top 31%

Special teams

• Power-play chances
  QuietThreat

  1.89 expected goals /60top 30%

  1.85 expected goals /60top 39%

• Shorthanded threat
  Pure defensePower kill

  1.04 expected goals for /60top 19%

  0.89 expected goals for /60too few games

Physical and puck

• Hitting
  Avoids contactPhysical

  hitting score 53bottom 40%6.00 hits /60top 33%

  hitting score 49bottom 37%2.20 hits /60bottom 26%

• Shot blocking
  Rarely blocksShot blocker

  blocking score 85bottom 37%2.11 blocks /60bottom 44%

  blocking score 88bottom 43%1.10 blocks /60bottom 5%

• Takeaways
  RarePuck thief

  takeaway score 124top 17%1.09 takeaways /60top 32%

  takeaway score 122top 19%2.20 takeaways /60top 1%

Penalties and faceoffs

• Drawing penalties
  RarelyDraws calls

  0.99 penalties drawn /60top 23%

  1.04 penalties drawn /60top 19%

• Staying out of the box
  Often penalizedClean

  0.49 penalties taken /60top 21%

  0.61 penalties taken /60top 42%

• Faceoffs
  Loses drawsWins draws

  48.2% wontoo few games

  49.5% wontoo few games

Hitting, shot blocking and takeaways are arena-adjusted scores (100 is the average forward); switch “Hits and takeaways” to Raw in the settings to see the numbers as recorded. How the ratings work.

Where his shots come from, and how his misses miss.

Speed, bursts, shot power and where he spends his shifts, from the NHL’s own tracking (NHL EDGE).

• Top speed
  SlowerBurner

  22.3 mphbottom 38%

  20.4 mphbottom 9%

• Fast bursts
  RareFrequent

  3.9 bursts /60bottom 33%

  3.3 bursts /60bottom 27%

• Hardest shot
  SofterCannon

  87.8 mphaverage

  87.8 mphtop 9%

• Distance skated
  ShorterCovers ground

  8.85 miles /60bottom 6%

  8.73 miles /60bottom 7%

• Time in the offensive zone
  DefendingAttacking

  39.0% of his timebottom 7%

  40.6% of his timeaverage

Top speed and hardest shot are his best single moments over this season and lastthis season; bursts and distance are per 60 minutes of his ice time. Tracking data: NHL EDGE.