Matias Maccelli's performance in New York proves Craig Berube was always the problem

Matias Maccelli is already thriving as part of the New York Islanders, which shows that he was never the issue in Toronto, it was Craig Berube's coaching.

The Toronto Maple Leafs brought in Matias Maccelli last year as a way to add some creativity and playmaking while hoping to find that next big playmaker next to Auston Matthews. After barely getting any time, Maccelli headed for greener pastures in Long Island this summer.

It seems like it hasn't taken him too long to get acclimated either, as he's already making waves at camp with him lining up on the second power-play unit and according to beat reporter Stefen Rosner, he's looking dangerous too:

-

After a nice give-and-go goal on the power-play during practice on Monday, Maccelli has quietly become a key part of the Islanders' offence going into 2026-27 at least according to head coach Peter DeBoer.

Peter DeBoer says Matias Maccelli was 'dangerous' on the ice

DeBoer had nothing but praise for Maccelli when addressing the media after practice, and his comments seem to show that he has the utmost confidence in Maccelli, even labeling him as dangerous; an attribute he would never achieve in Toronto:

You always noticed him on the ice. He was always attacking. He always looked dangerous. I'm excited to get him into some games.

-

Given that Maccelli has proven that he can be at least a 40-point player in the NHL, him finally getting his chance seems to follow a specific trend this summer.

Nick Robertson has skated alongside Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh and is being looked at for a top-six role, so there's certainly a pattern as to why these players suddenly have a lot more hope.

Craig Berube's coaching completely neutered Maccelli

That pattern has a lot to do with who was leading the bench for the Maple Leafs in 2025-26, that being Craig Berube. His game plan of north-south, with an onus on forechecking and gritty puck battling was not conducive to Maccelli's style of play.

Maccelli would often be saddled to the third or fourth line at times, never really getting a chance to gel or find chemistry with Auston Matthews, and Berube's impatience with his forwards led to him getting less and less chances until he was basically forced into them.

He went nearly a month without a point from Nov-Dec last year, and really only picked it up in March, way too late for anything substantial. Much like the rest of the Maple Leafs, the offence took a backseat to Berube's defense-first style and it hindered one of Toronto's key acquisitions that summer.

Auston Matthews was a shell of his former self, Morgan Rielly was not the offensive player he needed to be, Nick Robertson was never given the chance and neither was Maccelli. The common denominator in all of these failings is Berube.

It's a good thing then that the team realized they needed a change before things got even worse.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
19-year-old Maple Leafs prospect delivers stunning disappointment during preseason tilt