The struggling Toronto Maple Leafs will get some help up front for Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets as forwards Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy are all set to return to the lineup.
Toronto has dealt with numerous injuries this season, with Matthews sidelined since Nov. 11 with a lower-body injury suffered against the Boston Bruins. Roy has been out since Nov. 15 with an upper-body injury.
The 23-year-old Knies hasn’t played since Nov. 15, revealing he’s been dealing with a lower-body issue for “probably more than a month.”
“I feel great. I feel a lot better. I’m just excited to get back in the lineup. It sucks watching,” Knies told the media on Wednesday. “You just want to be out there to help the guys so happy to do that today.”
Knies has recorded five goals and 17 assists over 19 games this season, his fourth season with the Maple Leafs since being selected by the team in the second round of the 2021 draft. The native of Phoenix signed a six-year, $46.5 million contract, featuring an average annual value of $7.75 million, this past summer.
Matthews has nine goals and five assists over 17 games this season, his 10th in Toronto. Roy has one goal and four points in 19 games in his first season with the team.
Matthew Knies: “I feel great. I feel a lot better. I’m just excited to get back in the lineup. It sucks watching. You just want to be out there to help the guys so happy to do that today”
Says he had been dealing with lower-body issue for “probably more than a month”@TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 26, 2025
The Maple Leafs, who’ve made the playoffs in each of the past nine seasons, have struggled since opening night in 2025-26, currently sitting last in the Atlantic Division with a 9-10-3 record though 22 games. They’ve lost seven of their last eight games.
Veteran defenceman Brandon Carlo also attended the morning skate on Wednesday, marking the first time he’s been on the ice since Nov. 13 when he suffered a lower-body injury against the Los Angeles Kings.
Defenceman Chris Tanev hasn’t played since Nov. 1 with an upper-body injury while goalie Anthony Stolarz remains sidelined after suffering an upper-body injury on Nov. 11.
