Maple Leafs rookie lands new endorsement deal that is actually hugely important for the sport

One major perk of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs is that endorsement deals usually come pretty easily. Just last year, both Noel Acciari and Ryan O'Reilly sealed endorsement deals within weeks of being members of the team - Acciari with Tim Hortons and O'Reilly with Osmow's. These perks add additional compensation and notoriety for the players as they build up their own individual brand.

On Friday, Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect Matthew Knies unveiled a brand new partnership of his own. Knies took to his Instagram to share he'd be endorsing Warroad Hockey Company this season - specifically, their cut-resistent sportswear.


Warroad Hockey is working to create a much safer environment for players by providing cut resistant equipment. We have seen, on a number of occasions in recent years, an uptick in skate blade cuts. Two of the more notable ones in recent memory involved Evander Kane and Ilya Mikheyev.


Having a player like Matthew Knies, who plays in a hockey hot bed like Toronto, market their product is a great way for Warroad to put their name on the map. Knies has legitimate star potential and with all of the media coverage in Toronto, it will be a great opportunity for both Knies and Warroad to raise awareness for cut-resistant gear and increased safety precautions in the league.