"The Toronto Maple Leafs headed into the 2025 offseason with one of the most difficult tasks of the Auston Matthews era - replacing Mitch Marner's regular season production. For whatever you believe about Marner's impact beyond a strong regular season, filling the gap of a 100-point player who plays on both sides of the puck is not an easy job, and one of the players who was acquired in an effort to help fill that gap is Matias Maccelli."
"Maccelli was regularly shuffled throughout the lineup, playing on the first line in one game and the fourth line the next, and it got to a point where he was benched for 9 games, nearly a month's worth, before finally returning to the lineup on December 20 against the Nashville Predators. Amidst all of that, Maccelli has 15 points in 29 games and six in seven games since returning to the lineup."
"One of the main issues with Maccelli early on was the immediate realization that he wasn't far off of what Max Domi brought. While Domi has had higher highs and lower lows, Maccelli was the same type of player - small, strong playmaker, weak on the defensive side of the puck. Domi has seen a couple of scratches this season himself, but between his history with the team and his contract, Maccelli has gotten the short end of the stick more often than not."
Toronto needed to replace Mitch Marner's 100-point regular-season production entering the 2025 offseason. Matias Maccelli, 25, was acquired from the Coyotes for a conditional third-round pick after two productive seasons and a downturn following the franchise's move to Utah. Maccelli faced lineup instability, frequent shuffling, and a nine-game benching before returning December 20. He produced 15 points in 29 games, including six in seven games after his return. Early comparisons to Max Domi emphasized skillful playmaking but defensive shortcomings and inconsistency. Domi's contract and team history limited Maccelli's opportunities despite flashes of scoring.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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