The Overlooked Ability That Positions Matias Maccelli as Matthews' Ideal Winger
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
If the Maple Leafs were looking for a new winger for Auston Matthews, perhaps they should look to Matias Maccelli, who has one sneaky trait that could make him great.
When the Maple Leafs traded for Matias Maccelli, it was a pretty savvy deal that even Utah GM Bill Armstrong seems confident in regarding what Toronto ended up with. A young, promising playmaker, Maccelli gets the chance to skate with some pretty elite names.
But while there are questions about whether or not the team is going to bring someone in to slide alongside Auston Matthews, perhaps they should look to their new acquisition for some help
How Auston Matthews Could Benefit From Maccelli's Unique Skillset
Maccelli never really got a chance to play with the level of talent like Matthews. Clayton Keller is a great player, but Matthews is otherworldly. His quick hands, natural offensive awareness and fairly high hockey IQ is going to stand out quickly, and he'll have every chance to shine in camp.
Matthews, for as good a distributor as he is, is a goal-scorer first and foremost so adding that premier playmaker to his wing is vital. Matthew Knies is going to open up a lot of space and Maccelli's creativity might lead to some wild goals.
Plus, he has a little bit of that dog in him too, and seems willing to crash the net when the time calls for it.
Why Maccelli's Subtle Playmaking Stands Out on a Leafs Top Line
But it's not that he's a Mitch Marner-type player, and he'll often goo understated when it comes to the other stars, but that doesn't mean he can't contribute.
Maccelli has 78 assists combined over two seasons previous to 2024-25's, and while he isn't the most physical, as long as he works hard and plays a full 200-foot game, Craig Berube is going to be happy.
He'll also have Matthew Knies who is more than capable of scoring 25+ goals on the top line, and if he ends up fulfilling that fifth forward role for the power play, he could find even more success playing with guys like John Tavares.
You don't need to be flashy, you just need to be consistent, and if Maccelli can fight hard for pucks, perhaps add a bit more physicality (like Nick Robertson did) and continue to grow, he'll break out sooner than later.
Maccelli has a knack for finding the open lane, and if he just lets Matthews and Knies do their jobs as scorers, then he won't need to be flashy in order to make a difference.
What This Means for the Maple Leafs' Offense Going Forward
Well, if the team is confident that Maccelli can step into Marner's shoes to some extent, then it means that they are going to need to get everyone else on board.
Look, Maccelli is good, but he's still 24, and unproven still given his fluctuating role in Utah. To ask him to be Marner is to ask the world of him, and that's way too much pressure.
But if the team can support him with a cast that works cohesively to get him the puck and let him do what he does best, he'll flourish. It means they need to trust in him as well, and while that's not the easiest request; it'll benefit them if they do.
It also means that the team might not be pursuing that top-six forward like they have been expected to, and could be willing to give Maccelli full reign to run up top.
He'll have lots of competition, but he's good enough to earn a spot. We just have to wait until October 8th to see how the lineup shapes up.
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