KNIES IS UP FOR HOBEY BAKER

Top Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Knies is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s best men’s hockey player. Knies, drafted by Toronto in the second round in 2021, is starring for a University of Minnesota team that has advanced to the Frozen Four. He’s tied for seventh among NCAA players with 21 goals in 38 games and tied for first with seven game-winning goals. During an active trade deadline for the Leafs, general manager Kyle Dubas hung onto Knies. The other finalists for the award are Logan Cooley, who plays with Knies at Minnesota and is an Arizona Coyotes prospect, and Michigan star Adam Fantilli, a top prospect for the upcoming NHL draft.