Matias Maccelli's time with the Toronto Maple Leafs just took a dramatic turn
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Matias Maccelli was struggling to get any playing time with the Toronto Maple Leafs to start the year, although now, the team seems to be employing a new strategy.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Matias Maccelli last summer, they weren't sure what kind of player they were going to get.
They were either going to get the 50-point stud from a couple of seasons ago or the 18-point flop from the 2024-25 campaign.
To start the season, they got someone who was somewhere in the middle. While his skill was obvious and contagious, he had a hard time getting any points.
Eventually, Leafs head coach Craig Berube took him out of the lineup for almost a month. Since then, Maccelli has returned and has been productive. He even has 15 points in 30 games, which is a 41-point pace.
Toronto Maple Leafs change course on Matias Maccelli
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs were very keen on getting rid of Maccelli. However, a trade never materialized due to bad offers.
As the insider suggests, with Maccelli playing well, and the power play improving, it would appear as though a trade is no longer on the table.
The Leafs had made him available and obviously there weren't the bites that they liked; they're kinda hoping for...can the change in the powerplay help him find more of a role there
The Maple Leafs will need all of the offensive talent they can get if they are going to make the playoffs. They are two points out of a Wild Card spot, and are last place in an incredibly tight Atlantic Division.
Maccelli has proven that he can contribute goals and assists when it counts, and that is something the Leafs must take into consideration going forward.
However, if the Leafs' season takes a turn for the worse throughout the month of January, then perhaps we will see the Leafs opt into a different strategy.
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Craig Berube offers concerning update on Jake McCabe after exiting last night's game
Craig Berube offers concerning update on Jake McCabe after exiting last night's game
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 4 | 329 ANSWERS Matias Maccelli's time with the Toronto Maple Leafs just took a dramatic turn Do you believe the Toronto Maple Leafs need to trade Matias Maccelli? | ||
| YES | 123 | 37.4 % |
| NO | 206 | 62.6 % |
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