It’s a new day in Hogtown. It feels like the most dramatic hours are behind Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs. That is, of course, until the 2025-26 NHL season gets underway. Ahead of the upcoming campaign, Utah Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong provided the Leafs with a very sincere comment on new acquisition, Matias Maccelli.
Maccelli will enter his fifth NHL season when the puck drops in October 2025. However, as he spent his career in relatively small markets like Glendale and Salt Lake City’s, the 24-year-old’s name might not ring a bell for the passionate fans in Ontario.
The Maple Leafs are eager to get to know their new talent. Maccelli could work wonders in easing the pressure on Matthews and company after yet another turbulent season. It feels like the Maple Leafs don’t make the rules—Toronto does, and its anxious fanbase won’t waver in its ambition for a Stanley Cup.
Trading for the youngster was a risky move on Toronto’s part. A conditional third-round selection might not sound like much, but results will still be expected right away. In that regard, Utah’s Armstrong was sincere on his thoughts as Maccelli is set to join Matthews and company.
Matias Maccelli #63 of the Arizona Coyotes skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 29, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
“If he hits for the Leafs, he can do wonders, and he’s a great kid,” Armstrong said, in dialogue with Leafs Morning Take. “We wish him the best. He really is a good person.”
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Win-win
Oftentimes after a trade, the team that parts ways with a player hopes he puts up worse stats than before, so they feel no remorse about their move. However, that might not be the case for Utah. That’s because the Mammoth could actually benefit from Maccelli having a good season with the Maple Leafs.
“It’s a good deal for us,” Armstrong added. “If he gets over 45 points, [the conditional third round pick] turns into a second-rounder. So, we’re kind of protected on that side. If he doesn’t then the Leafs just give us a third rounder.”
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks on before playing against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Up-and-coming Mammoth
Armstrong further addressed what led to Utah moving on from the former fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL entry Draft. The Mammoth boast a young roster, with several names emerging as top talents in the league.
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The Mammoth currently have the sixth-youngest lineup with an average age of 27 years, per Elite Prospects. Maccelli could’ve been a key piece for them, but the front office simply decided to take a different route after a disappointing production in the past campaign.
“Sometimes it’s internal competition. With our group getting better every year. Logan Cooley getting an year older and eating up more ice [time], Dylan Guenther is an year older and eats up more ice, and Barrett Hayton is improving. All these guys are going at it,” Armstrong said.
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“Maccelli just got off to a tough start and there was guys in our team that just took away some of his ice and it never really got going for him. That sometimes happens to players. But, he’s going to be a great add for the Leafs.”
