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According to James Mirtle, the Toronto Maple Leafs are making Matias Maccelli available in a trade which makes things difficult as he might not have many buyers.
One name who has seemingly slipped through the cracks is Matias Maccelli, a player who at one point seemed like a for sure candidate to be dealt since he wasn’t exactly gelling with the rest of the team.
Matias Maccelli not the most popular trade target
But he’s picked up game as of late, and not only has he helped the Maple Leafs during their three-game win streak but he’s also raised his trade stock considerably from earlier on.
That is great news for the Maple Leafs who might look to still deal him, however according to James Mirtle — they may not have much to work with.
Mirtle appeared on the JD Bunkis podcast and talked all things Maple Leafs, and during the topic of who could bring in what, Maccelli’s name popped up but Mirtle seemed less than confident about a prospective deal:
I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of suitors for Maccelli.
It’s a bit unfortunate that the Maple Leafs can’t use Maccelli to bring in some draft assets however things aren’t exactly hopeless when it comes to the Finnish forward.
Maple Leafs should think about keeping Matias Maccelli
Maccelli could definitely be part of the solution in Toronto and his chemistry alongside John Tavares and William Nylander is becoming greater each game they play together.
But he’s clearly got a lot of creativity and exceptional puck skills, he’s fast and has an underrated shot. He’s got the potential to reach 15 goals and 40 points; not too far off from his career norm and he’s already crushed last year’s total.
Toronto often decides to bet on veteran leadership and proven players over young potential upstarts but a retool doesn’t mean they need to get rid of everyone. Maccelli can be an effective NHL player and if he can improve a bit more defensively — could be a top-six staple for years.
Giving him more time to play with Tavares and Nylander (who are locked up long-term) will only build his confidence and we could be looking at a very potent line.
While Maccelli might not have a ton of interested parties, that may not matter if the Maple Leafs can maximize his potential while he’s still a part of the team. It’s a move that could prove very beneficial if they’re patient enough.
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