Traded Toronto Maple Leaf has already made history for his new team

It's taken no time for former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies to feel comfortable in his new home.

Just days after the massive trade, Knies put up three points and scored twice in Columbus's 6-3 season-opener rout of the Buffalo Sabres.

Knies was traded from Toronto on Monday along with Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a conditional 2027 second-round pick in exchange for star Russian forward Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.

The timing of the trade apparently came as a shock to Knies, who was expected to be in the lineup for the Maple Leafs' season opener against the Montreal Canadiens the next night.

Matthew Knies...AGAIN!?!? 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/cY8V5g1Hhl

— NHL (@NHL) October 2, 2026

It didn't take long for Knies to find his stride in Columbus. He became the 25th player to score in his Blue Jackets debut and the only player to put up three points in his first game with the franchise.

After the game, Knies made it clear that he's already feeling pretty good about his new home.

"I'm absolutely loving it. It's some of the best fans; it's been incredible," Knies said.

"These guys are awesome. It's a damn fun locker room to be in, so I'm just excited to be here and keep working with these guys."

Knies said the Blue Jackets organization and his new teammates have made the transition to Columbus easy after months of uncertainty around his future in Toronto.

Knies is LOVIN' it! pic.twitter.com/6RQrPHoWSI

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 2, 2026

The Arizona native had reportedly been involved in trade rumours since last season's trade deadline. According to Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Knies and his representation wanted clarity heading into this season about whether he was part of the Maple Leafs' long-term plans.

Now, Knies appears to be fully embracing the fresh start,

Before Thursday's season opener, he walked the Blue Jackets' blue carpet, taking time to sign autographs and meet with fans.

"I love the passion that they have here for hockey. It's a really fun atmosphere to play in," Knies said about the fans.

Following the win, Knies was welcomed by his teammates with the Blue Jackets' traditional donkey hat for being named the player of the game.

On the other side of the deal, Marchenko hasn't had the same firecracker start as Knies with the Maple Leafs.

The 27-year-old recorded an assist in his Maple Leafs debut against Montreal but was held off the scoresheet in Toronto's 2-1 win over the New York Islanders.

Though a few games is way too soon to judge the outcome of a trade, the jury might have its partial verdict in a few weeks.

Marchenko and the Maple Leafs will head to Columbus to play Knies and the Blue Jackets on Oct. 20 — the first meeting between the two teams since completing the trade.