Lesson learned for Matthew Knies.
As the young winger prepares to come back from a suspected head injury 10 days ago when crushed by a Zach Whitecloud bodycheck, he told media in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday that he must be more aware of his surroundings when he makes an expected return Saturday.
“It was a tough position I put myself in, in a tough scenario. I was just trying to get the puck in (deep) and you have to keep your head up. That led me to missing a few games, but that happens in hockey.”
Teammate Simon Benoit went right after Whitecloud feeling he’d left his feet to target Knies’s head, but no penalty was called on the Vegas Golden Knight. The Leafs were sensitive to the issue after Ryan Reaves had been suspended five games, though for a more obvious check to the noggin of Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse.
The reaction of the Leafs and in the large Toronto media field played a part in the league’s department of player safety putting out a clarifying video of recent high hits to explain its decision not to assess Whitecloud supplemental discipline.
“I watched (Whitecloud’s shoulder contact) a few times,” Knies said. “I have to trust the league in the sense they got the play right. He apologized after the game, I don’t think he’s intending to hurt me. I’m not happy I was hurt, but I’m happy I’m healthy.”
Knies would not confirm he was concussed on the play. After a few days away, he has been practising full time and appears to be back on Auston Matthews’ right side when the Leafs face Tampa Bay.
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Knies had eight goals and 12 points in 20 games and has become a valued net-front presence.
“I don’t think I’ve lost anything,” he said. “I’ve been on the trip, around the guys, no loss of momentum there.”
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