What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Matias Maccelli?

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Matias Maccelli?

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a savvy move in the offseason when they acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round pick on June 30th.

The Finnish forward is coming off a down year where he could only muster up eight goals and 18 points in 55 games played, missing some time due to injury and then being a frequent healthy scratch down the stretch. Part of what led to his scratches was just how loaded the Mammoth were last season up front, while another was a loss in confidence that greatly hindered his play. Utah had no choice but to accept a marginal return for a player who will be an RFA at the conclusion of the 2025-26 because Maccelli had reportedly requested a trade.

What this means is that the Leafs are taking a risk in bringing in the 24-year-old, but they are making a bet that the previous campaign was a mere blip on the radar and not the start of a downward trend. That’s because the two prior years saw him put up 49 points and 57 points respectively, the latter of which resulted in Maccelli finishing third on the team in scoring behind Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. And to be frank, the winger is eager to get the fresh start and prove he is still the player he was when the Arizona Coyotes still existed.

“It comes down to ice time and opportunity with the points,” Maccelli said to reporters on July 7th. “It wasn’t my best year, but I still know that I’m a better player than I was in Arizona. I’ve got it still in me, so now I’ve got to show people again.”

The Goal: Secure a place in the top six

It is clear that Maccelli is not going to be an exact Mitch Marner replacement, but he can certainly bring the playmaking ability that made the now Vegas Golden Knight so effective offensively. Maccelli is an opportunist who likes to create a lot of odd-man rushes and feed his teammates who are in the prime areas. This is a dynamic player when he is on his game and can find his footing alongside a sniper and power forward.

His offensive abilities will give him a good chance to crack the top-six, but he will also need to ensure that his play in the defensive end is also strong because head coach Craig Berube values players who pay attention to both sides of the puck. Maccelli won’t be physical, but he can be effective in his own zone by positioning and instincts. Taking the baseline and improving upon it will go a long way to rounding out his game and improving his chances of being an everyday player again.

Above all else, the Leafs need to find a way to help Maccelli get his confidence back. He certainly could work well alongside Auston Matthews for the same reasons Max Domi worked well in that spot in 2023-24. Even if Maccelli doesn’t get that elusive spot on the top line, there is still a world where he can thrive alongside the likes of John Tavares and William Nylander, but it’s all about finding the chemistry and getting into a groove as soon as possible. Berube has always been straightforward with his players and I would imagine that is something Maccelli will appreciate, especially if there is a moment where he needs to play in the bottom-six for a bit.

The expectation: Bounce back to at least 40 points or more

Regardless of where he ends up in the Leafs’ lineup, there are more than enough quality players around Maccelli that he can rebound closer to the numbers he put up with the Coyotes. Make no mistake, his play will be an x-factor in how things unfold for the team from an offensive standpoint because him getting a bounce back could do wonders in helping fill the void left behind by Marner. So long as he can regain his swagger and get into a rhythm with his new linemates, nothing suggests he can’t get there.

There should be plenty of motivation on Maccelli’s side to get back to the level he was at the two seasons before the most recent one. Beyond just proving to himself he still has what it takes, he is entering a contract year while joining a team that is looking to contend for the Stanley Cup. Making the most of his chance alongside Matthews and Matthew Knies would certainly go a long way in reaching his goals, but securing that spot in the top six will do wonders for him and the team offensively speaking.

The conditions on that third-round pick are that it becomes a 2029 second-rounder if Toronto makes the playoffs this year and Maccelli gets at least 51 points through the 2025-26 season. I would imagine that the Leafs would be more than happy to pay that price, assuming it comes to fruition, as the acquisition of Maccelli could impact the team both now and down the line. He will certainly have to prove he never lost his touch, but the chances are good that he can regain his swagger.

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