Matias Maccelli, Toronto Maple Leafs forward
Even with the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ renewed struggles, and a desperate search for top-six help, first-year Leaf Matias Maccelli still cannot find his way back into the lineup. He has been a healthy scratch for seven consecutive games after Saturday night, and has just not recaptured the playmaking form that made him a 57-point man two seasons ago.

The 5’11” forward is just not a Craig Berube favorite, as Maccelli has posted just nine points in 22 games, with only three hits. 

With that, it’s only a matter of time before he moves on. At least, that’s the word from a notable hockey insider. 

Elliotte Friedman wrote for Sportsnet on Friday, getting the rumors kicked off:

Maccelli, unfortunately, hasn’t been a fit for the Maple Leafs. I don’t believe they were the only team who looked at him in the summer, so some of those clubs may circle back. 

Friedman followed that up on his 32 Thoughts podcast, by naming one division rival of the Leafs that could be a factor:

I heard Boston had poked around him last year when he was available (in the summer). I don’t know if that’s still the case now, but you always look and circle it, who were the other teams that were maybe interested in acquiring him. I know the Bruins were there and I know they’re still looking for a scoring winger (even) as well as they’re going. But I’m not sure if Maccelli is going to be their guy still or they look for someone else. 

Certainly, Maccelli hasn’t raised his stock, or his trade value, in any way, shape or form. But maybe the Bruins are still eyeing that 40-assist, 17-goal season in 2023-24, and his 38 assists and 49 points in just 64 games in 2022-23. The contractual commitment only runs through this season, as Maccelli becomes an RFA after the current campaign. He’s on an expiring $3.425M cap hit. 

As far as an intra-divisional trade goes, that’s normally taboo, but the Leafs & Bruins struck a deal less than a year ago, in the Brandon Carlo/Fraser Minten trade. It wouldn’t be a shock to see them consider doing something again. 

Photo: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images