The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping Auston Matthews and the rest of the squad can bounce back quickly after Mitch Marner’s departure. Though they know he’s not fully replaceable, the Leafs hope their recent additions can help fill the void left by the former winger. On that note, they recently traded for a young NHL talent, who, according to reports, had been on the radar of Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers, the Boston Bruins, and others.
Amid a dramatic NHL offseason, Toronto must feel good about finally having a puck bounce its way. It seems that never happens for the organization in Hogtown. As reports state, the Maple Leafs recently pulled the rug from under the Oilers and Bruins.
Matias Maccelli has joined Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs via a trade from the Utah Mammoth. The 24-year-old is coming off a somewhat disappointing season and is eager to get off on the right foot in Toronto.
While his 18-point production last campaign is nothing to pop champagne over, several teams had their eyes on the young talent—including McDavid’s Oilers. Edmonton is in win-now mode, and its interest in Maccelli suggests they believed he could help push them from runners-up to Stanley Cup champions. Regardless, the Oilers and Bruins will be left to wonder, as Maccelli now lines up alongside Matthews in Toronto.
Matias Maccelli #63 of the Utah Hockey Club looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena on December 30, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.
“I heard there were three or four teams who were in on Maccelli. Boston was one and Edmonton was another,” insider Elliotte Friedman said during the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast. [Toronto assistant coach] Shane Doan obviously knows Maccelli. The fact that the Maple Leafs did that, that says to me Doan believes he can be that kind of player.”
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Putting in the work
Size has never been Maccelli’s ally in the NHL. At 5’11” and 185 pounds, the Finnish forward has thrived primarily on the left wing, though he’s occasionally been deployed at center or on the right side.
“I’ve been working a lot this summer on my game, more than maybe the previous years,” Maccelli told Sportsnet. “Just have to be comfortable again with the puck and make plays and all that kind of stuff. I’ve been definitely putting the work in this summer and am ready to go.”
Maccelli failed to replicate the success he found in the 2023-24 season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Arizona Coyotes relocation and transformation into the Utah Hockey Club seemingly played a role in the former fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL entry Draft.
McDavid looks on from the bench during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, reflecting a decade of leadership with the Oilers.
Flipping the script
After a career-high 58-point season, Maccelli followed it up with a disappointing 18-point campaign in Salt Lake City. He was somewhat fortunate that the pressure remained relatively low in the Beehive State. But as he transitions to a completely different kind of market, he knows he’ll have to produce right away to quiet the noise surrounding the Maple Leafs. He has no doubts on that regard, though.
“It comes down to ice time and opportunity kind of with the points,” Maccelli said, via Sportsnet. “It wasn’t obviously the best year for myself. But I still know I’m a better player than I was. I’ve got it still in me. Now, I’ve just got to show people that again.”
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Earning the Captain’s trust
It will be an uphill climb for Maccelli, but the young forward isn’t afraid to pitch his dream scenario for the Maple Leafs to listen. “I would definitely love [playing on Matthews’ line]. Playing with a guy like that would be great,” Maccelli admitted. “I’ll make sure I’ll be in shape if I get a chance to play with Auston or any of the top guys in Toronto.”
