Maple Leafs' New Addition Surprisingly Snubbed From Olympic Projections
Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
There's a lot of excitement surrounding Matias Maccelli on the Maple Leafs, but after being left off the projected Finnish roster for the Olympics it's a big question mark.
Bringing in Matias Maccelli was a pretty shrewd move from GM Brad Treliving and although the cost becomes a bit pricier if Maccelli proves himself, it's worth the cost if they can get the best out of him, and maybe putting him with Auston Matthews might be the key.
He's young and has a ton of potential and while he hasn't hit his stride just yet, the future is bright for the Finnish forward.
Maccelli Left Off Finland's Projected Roster; Team Values Experience Over Youth
However, while he's very solid he might not be good enough to earn a spot on the Finnish Olympic team according to projections from The Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin and Finnish broadcaster Antti Makinen.
In their thoughts on the roster going into Italy in 2026, they listed quite a few stars including Sasha Barkov, Mikko Rantanen, and Sebastian Aho but also includes some smaller role players like Eetu Luostarinen, Erik Haula, and Joel Armia.
A notable omission however is Maccelli, and it's curious as to why.
Sure, he's not on the level of a Rantanen or Barkov, but for a team that needs some more playmaking in their ranks, Maccelli is a perfect fit.
Of course, there's always a chance that he could get a call, especially if he puts in a strong start to the season and proves to GM Jere Lehtinen he deserves a spot.
However both Larkin and Makinen both had Maccelli on their 'toughest cuts' portion with Makinen stating that he could earn a spot with a good start in Toronto.
Matias Maccelli had a hard season with Utah. now he will be wearing the Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, and if he takes a big step forward, he will be in the mix.
What It Means for His Role in Toronto This Season
But perhaps that is just the motivation that Maccelli needs to get his season off on the right foot.
If Craig Berube decides to put him with Auston Matthews in training camp to see how they mesh, it could be the catalyst to get both Maccelli and Matthews in the groove of things.
Knowing that his teammates are also going to the Olympics, he might have a small case of FOMO or envy, which in turn willl hopefully push him harder to earn a shot himself.
Which means he might get a bit more physically involved, he might become more aggressive, and with Craig Berube instructing him on how to play his style; we could see a quick evolution into a two-way player.
Maccelli only had 18 points last year for the Mammoth but has a combined 106 points in 146 games the two seasons prior (28 goals, 78 assists) and those types of numbers should make fans excited for what he can do with some real firepower.
So maybe getting left off projections is a good thing for Maccelli, who no doubt is going to be keeping an ear out for what the hockey world is saying about him.
But maybe that noise will turn into exactly what he needs to break out so people can appreciate his arrival.
Loud and clear.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 23 | 999 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' New Addition Surprisingly Snubbed From Olympic Projections Does Matias Maccelli deserve to be on Team Finland for the Olympics? | ||
| Yes | 756 | 75.7 % |
| No | 243 | 24.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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