NHL: St. Louis Blues at Toronto Maple Leafs - Source: ImagnJohn Tavares has brutally honest advice for 22-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs forward (image credit: IMAGN)

John Tavares sees a path where Matthew Knies will have a long and productive career. Tavares knows he has the talent, but also sees his inexperience. Knies is just 22 years old and was drafted just three seasons ago. Tavares gave some brutally honest advice to his young teammate.

Tavares believes one of the key issues of Knies is mental:

“We think he’s listening but sometimes he’s not always quite there,” Tavares said on Wednesday, via TSN.

He also praised Knies’ development:

“Unique to have someone so young that’s so physically mature, but also has finesse,” Tavares added.

This is a sentiment shared by some Toronto Maple Leafs players. Tavares is joined by forward Max Pacioretty in thinking that Knies, who came into this season 10 pounds heavier, is unique:

“I knew he was big, but he’s really big, especially at a younger age to be physically mature like that is rare,” Pacioretty said, via TSN. “He’s a smart player that plays in all situations, which is also rare for a young player.

“I think when you have those areas covered, you can kind of be a little bit more free and work at all the other areas of the game, and from what guys have been saying, he’s been doing that. Every night, he’s a dangerous player and a big part of this team.”

Knies has been a key contributor early this season, helping the Maple Leafs get out to a third-place start in their division.

Max Pacioretty praises John Tavares

John Tavares is no longer the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, after yielding the role to Auston Matthews during the offseason. However, he continues to teach his teammates.

John Tavares was praised by Max Pacioretty (Imagn)John Tavares was praised by Max Pacioretty (Imagn)

Max Pacioretty praised Tavares’ commitment, via the Toronto Sun:

“He’s one of the most dialed-in, committed players I’ve ever seen when it comes to on-ice, off-ice,” Pacioretty said. “I really like old-school mentality players, in the sense of talking to each other about every play, chemistry.”

Pacioretty said that what Tavares is teaching him is “completely against everything” that he learned about skating in hockey growing up. He also credited Tavares for opening his eyes to a lot of things and helping him improve.