Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies had an inkling that his game would take a step forward under the guidance of head coach Craig Berube.

The 22-year-old winger is in the midst of a breakout season where he has grown comfortable with the pace of play in the NHL and grown stronger. It has resulted in Knies flirting with 30 goals and 60 points in only his second full campaign while continuing to thrive alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

A big part of his growth has been under the watch of Berube, who wants his players to be direct and physical. It has been a perfect fit for Knies, who has shown to be more than willing to put his body on the line every night.

“I felt that I’m good enough to play at this level and to have this much success here,” he said to The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke. “I feel like I’ve earned that ice time that I’ve been given. I knew with Craig I’d have a bigger impact. I’ve been tuned into being a power forward like he wants.”

That growth into becoming more of a power forward has been evident throughout the first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. All three of Knies’ goals were the result of taking advantage of his bigger frame to outmuscle his opponents for the puck and create the separation needed to get clean looks. It was also apparent in the closing moments of Game 6 when he gave it his all to beat out an icing call that resulted in precious time being shaved off the clock.

Knies has also taken strides in his abilities as a penalty killer, showcasing the smarts and tenacity needed to be relied upon when his team is down a man. He credits his love of killing penalties to watching his older brother, Phil, do the same thing throughout his career.

“My whole career, juniors, college, I’ve killed (penalties),” he said. “I love it. It’s a very important part of the game. I want to be as involved as possible.”

Beyond all of that is how seriously Knies takes playoff hockey, because he has quickly grown to understand the pressure that comes with playing at this time of year. For instance, when reflecting on his series against the Boston Bruins in 2024, he still mulls over a blocked shot on Brad Marchand in Game 1 that didn’t get fully out of the zone and ended up in the Leafs’ net seconds later.

Though learning on the fly what it takes to be successful in the spring, Knies has cemented himself as a key cog in the Leafs’ system for years to come. His teammates have quickly taken notice of the growth he has shown this year.

“He has got confidence, and that’s a great thing. It’s hard to come by, especially for younger guys. There’s times when you have to manufacture it, but he’s got it,” defenceman Brandon Carlo said.

If the Leafs want to take down the reigning Stanley Cup champions in the Florida Panthers, Knies will be one of the players they will be leaning on. His impact was felt when he missed time in the previous matchup two years ago, but he is certainly more prepared this time around and eager to right the wrongs of back then.

He will have his first chance to place his stamp on the series in Game 1 on Monday, with puck drop set for 8 p.m. EST.