The Toronto Maple Leafs are still not in a playoff spot despite bouncing back from their sluggish begin to the season. Losing Mitch Marner has proven catastrophic for his or her offense already. One in every of the Maple Leafs’ trades to interchange Marner was for Utah Mammoth forward Matias Maccelli. But Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that he might be headed out the door already.
“Another names to regulate as they fight for lineup time: Maxim Tsyplakov (Islanders) and Matias Maccelli (Toronto),” Friedman reported. “Maccelli, unfortunately, hasn’t been a fit for the Maple Leafs. I don’t imagine they were the one team who checked out him in the summertime, so a few of those clubs may circle back.”
Maccelli has nine points through 22 games this season, which doesn’t include his many healthy scratches. His time with the Arizona Coyotes made it seem to be he can be a top-six scorer for years to return. With 57 points in his age-23 season, he was a part of the core they delivered to Utah. But 18 points in 55 games with the Mammoth send him to the Maple Leafs. Now, he’s struggling again.
Maccelli is barely 25 years old, so there will probably be one other team willing to take a probability on him. Will the Maple Leafs get back the third-round pick they gave up for him? His poor play continuing would point to no, but teams get desperate across the trade deadline. And with a poor pending free-agent class, the trade market might be barren this season.
The Maple Leafs at all times have probably the most attention and brightest lights within the National Hockey League. Maccelli has not been capable of live as much as that billing to this point, which could see him leave. Could the Florida Panthers’ injuries force them right into a trade? Or could Maccelli have a spot back in Utah amid Logan Cooley’s injury? He must have suitors this season.