The NHL season is still weeks away from starting, but Matthew Knies already has started scoring.
The Toronto Maple Leafs star potted a hole-in-one this past weekend and shared a photo on Instagram to commemorate the occasion.
In the Story on Sunday, Knies is seen holding his golf ball and the flag at the hole alongside his playing partners – which appeared to include Toronto teammates Steven Lorentz, Michael Pezzetta and Zach MacEwen.
Fans on social media were quick to have a few jabs at Knies and the Leafs for their early tee times.
“You have to think Leaf players would be very skilled at golf since they play so much with extended off-seasons,” one follower wrote on X.
“Is there a 12 on his ball anywhere?” another joked, referencing the draft lottery ball that earned the Leafs the No. 1 pick earlier this year.
But, make all the jokes that you want about the Leafs’ extended summer and Knies have more opportunity than ever to get in some extra practice rounds instead of playoff rounds, but hitting an ace remains one of the most impressive feats an athlete can accomplish.
It was unclear which course Knies was playing, but we can only assume that he won’t have many rounds left to play this summer. The franchise is set to begin training camp next week with on-ice sessions getting underway on Sept. 17.
After that, the puck drops on the pre-season with a pair of split-squad games versus the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 19.
The games start counting for real on Oct. 3, when the Leafs host the Ottawa Senators.
Is Matthew Knies going to be traded?
Knies has seen his name in the headlines quite often this off-season. The rising star often has been floated in trade talks as the team looks to overhaul the roster under new general manager John Chayka.
With Columbus Blue Jackets superstar defenceman Zach Werenski reportedly on the block, online pitches often have centred around the Knies in any potential package.
In his third full NHL season, Knies is coming off his most productive campaign yet. He scored 23 goals and 43 assists for a career-high 66 points in 79 games.
He reportedly is likely to begin the 2026-27 season on the team’s first line with Auston Matthews and top pick Gavin McKenna.