Maple Leafs GM hopeful in acquiring 'dynamic' playmaker Matias Maccelli

Article content

Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is willing to roll the dice on winger Matias Maccelli.

Acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Utah Mammoth on Monday for a conditional draft pick, Maccelli had a difficult 2024-25 season, recording just 18 points in 51 games and often was a healthy scratch.

It’s Maccelli’s previous two years in the National Hockey League that give the Leafs hope that he can be a productive player in Toronto.

After he was named to the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2022-23 with the Arizona Coyotes, Maccelli had 17 goals and 40 assists in 82 games in 2023-24.

“He’s a dynamic playmaker, and when you look at some of the areas that we need to address, playmaking ability was one of them,” Treliving said. “There’s a bet here on a player that we think can rebound from the season he had and with some of the players that we have.

“Ultimately, it will come down to the fits and where they all go. We just felt, at the price that it cost us, that this was a chance for a young player who has some dynamic skill and ability, it was worth the bet.”

To get the 24-year-old Finland native, Treliving sent a third-round pick in 2027 to Utah. If the Leafs make the playoffs next season and Maccelli has at least 51 points, the pick becomes a second-round choice in 2029.

Hours after the Maccelli trade, the Leafs re-signed fourth-line winger Steven Lorentz to a three-year extension with an average annual value of $1.35 million US.

“Stevie’s come in and fit really well with our group (after coming to camp last year on a PTO),” Treliving said. “He’s happy here. What’s the old saying: ‘Don’t something with happy.’ I’m glad it worked out. It’s good to have Steve back.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun