Knies only wants to talk about wrestling. He is excitedly recalling how he was desperately trying to pin a man more than twice his age.
Knies was grappling with Shane Doan in his backyard in Arizona two summers ago because, well, perhaps spontaneous wrestling matches between two athletes don?t require much of an explanation.
At this point in 2021, Knies already had a few inches on one of his hockey heroes. The then 19-year-old Knies thought he had Doan beat. That is until experience kicked in and Doan, no stranger to physicality with 1,353 penalty minutes in his NHL career, finally pinned Knies. But as soon as Doan did, he offered an assessment on the wrestling match and Knies himself that still echoes in Knies? ears.
?You don?t understand how strong you are.?
[...]
?I know I might not be the best stick handler or skater, but there?s aspects that I think I?m better at than other players,? he said.
?That?s why I use my body: It?s another tool to get me to win those battles,? Knies said. ?I just don?t want to be a soft player. I?m going to use my body for sure and make other players aware of me on the ice. I think a harder player to play against is when you don?t know whether he?s gonna steal the puck away from you, or if he?s gonna put you through the glass. That?s the kind of player I want to be.?
He?s tried to apply the advice he got from Doan as a younger player every time he?s stepped on the ice this season: ?Don?t be the most skilled player. Be the best player. Do the little things right.?
