Should the Maple Leafs consider a one-for-one trade with the Kraken?

Seattle Kraken forward Mason Marchment (left) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matias Maccelli (right)

Photo credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images (left) Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images (right)

With the Maple Leafs looking to improve their top-six, is it possible they do a one-for one swap with Mason Marchment and Matias Maccelli?

He hasn’t played since Nov. 28th, and there’s no real indication that he’ll be back in the lineup anytime soon unless things completely snowball and he’s essentially forced into a spot; feasible but not a sure guarantee.

It’s likely time the team decided to move on and cut their losses. Yes they wasted a pick on him, and for a team lacking in assets to move that wasn’t necessarily the smartest decision.

Toronto could be circling back to Mason Marchment: David Pagnotta

But they could have a way out if all goes well.

Toronto continues to look for a top-six addition – along with half the league – and in addition to Max Domi, whose name is still floating out there, Mattias Maccelli is also available.

Pagnotta also mentioned that the Seattle Kraken could be the team Toronto looks at; specifically for Mason Marchment:

One target may be Seattle winger Mason Marchment, who Leafs GM Brad Treliving tried to land in June before he was dealt to the Kraken.

So with that being said, what if the Maple Leafs and Kraken were to make a simple one-for-one swap?

Toronto should try and swap Maccelli for Marchment

So in knowing that, going after him with a lot more experience and production behind his belt is a smart choice, and giving GM Ron Francis a young playmaking winger in Maccelli fits their timeline.

The Kraken are in a weird spot right now. They are offensively stagnant, sitting last in the league with 73 goals coming into Sunday night, but they haven’t necessarily been bad.

Their record is 12-11-6, which isn’t awful but it’s not amazing. They’re full of veterans whose ages range from 29-35 years old, but have a slew of young up and coming players like Berkley Catton, Shane Wright, and Matty Beniers.

Seattle should probably try and add youth by trading their veteran pieces, and swapping Maccelli for Marchment; two players with similar stats this season, is a good start.

Marchment, 30, has 13 points in 27 games (4 goals, 9 assists) while adding 10 blocks, 35 hits and a minus-two rating in 16:56 TOI. He fits the lineup much better than Maccelli, is more physical, and has a fair amount of playoff experience.

Plus he’s a free agent at the end of the season, so his $4.5-million cap hit won’t be a burden if the team elects to move on, though they should look to extend him for a few years if he does end up on the team; he’ll solidify the lineup wherever he plays.

Maccelli, 25, is still growing his game and while he’s shown flashes of brilliance and does have seasons of 49 and 57 points in his career, he’s yet to really break out.

In 22 games with Toronto he’s put up nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) with a plus-two, seven blocks, and four PIM in 13:12 TOI. He’s also a restricted free agent after this year, and could be a part of Seattle’s plans for a long time.

There’s no real reason for Toronto to keep holding onto him at this point, especially if they are letting him sit every game. Just because he doesn’t fit for the Maple Leafs doesn’t mean he wouldn’t elsewhere.

So give him a chance to succeed in Seattle, while giving Marchment a chance to show his old team what he’s truly capable of.