Maple Leafs Rookie And Arizona Native Matthew Knies 'Not Too Happy' About Coyotes Potentially Relocating

The future of the Arizona Coyotes and at least one member of the Toronto Maple Leafs who hails from Arizona is bumming about the situation.

No, not Auston Matthews (maybe he is; I don't know), Matthew Knies.

The Phoenix native is wrapping up his first full season with the Leafs after playing a handful of regular-season games and the playoffs in Toronto last season.

Considering he grew up around the team, reporters asked him his thoughts on the Coyotes potentially moving to Salt Lake City as rumors of a sale to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith heat up.

"Not too happy with the situation," Knies said, according to Sportsnet. "It's pretty unfortunate. The Coyotes did a lot for me growing up, and I loved going to the games. It was a big reason as to why I got into hockey. But that kind of situation is out of my control. I'm hopeful that they can stay there, because it meant a lot to me, but I guess we're gonna have to see what happens."

That is a huge bummer about this situation. There are a lot of people in the Phoenix area, and we've already seen players like Knies and Matthews come from there and get to the NHL.

Maple Leafs rookie Matthew Knies is an Arizona native and expressed disappointment at rumblings that the Coyotes may relocate to Utah.  (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Coyotes potentially leaving could mean fewer kids get to give hockey a shot. Hopefully, Arizona State — which fields a team at the NCAA Division I level — will carry the proverbial torch for the sport. 

Having a presence in a market like that is huge for growing the game.

"When I was growing up, it wasn't the hockey hotbed Colorado or Chicago or Detroit was. But it was definitely growing, and you could see the potential there," Knies explained. "The Coyotes were a big part of that, and so it's definitely gotten a lot better. I know a lot of kids are starting to pick up a hockey stick now, and it's just really good to see. So, again, hope they can stay there."

READ: NHL REPORTEDLY WORKING ON TWO VERSIONS OF SCHEDULE IN CASE COYOTES MOVE TO SALT LAKE CITY

Luckily for Knies, if time is winding down for the Arizona Coyotes (they're going to miss the playoffs and their last regular season game is next Thursday at home), he still got to play in the NHL close to where he grew up when the Leafs paid a visit to Mullett Arena in February.