Utah GM Explains Decision Behind Maccelli Trade with Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Utah Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong was a guest on Leafs Morning Take and explained why he decided to part ways with Matias Maccelli, and why fans should be excited.
When the Maple Leafs acquired young forward Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth for a 3rd-round pick, it was a deal that many fans questioned given that he wasn't the impact player they were expecting to be trading for.
However, his first interview shows he has the confidence to not only hold up to fans expectations, but feels confident he can step into Mitch Marner's shoes and be that elite playmaker for Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
Maccelli expected to be a great addition for Toronto: Bill Armstrong
There's a lot to be excited about regarding Maccelli, and at only 24, the Finnish forward has years to grow and become one of the better playmakers and offensive threats in the league.
Utah needed to give him a change of scenery, and GM Bill Armstrong was able to get a deal done. Speaking of Armstrong, he was a guest on Leafs Morning Take on Monday and explained the reasoning behind the Maccelli deal:
I've always viewed being a GM with your players as a partnership. We had pretty good relationships with the players, and when, you know, there's not a fit in our club, we're going to do what's best for our club.
At the same time, if we can help the player out and move him to a good place, we want to do that and that's what happened here with this deal.
It's a good deal for Utah, it's a great deal for the Leafs, and it's going to be good for the player. He's going to go in and play around with some very high-skilled players, and it's going to benefit him and benefit the Leafs.
At the same time, if we can help the player out and move him to a good place, we want to do that and that's what happened here with this deal.
It's a good deal for Utah, it's a great deal for the Leafs, and it's going to be good for the player. He's going to go in and play around with some very high-skilled players, and it's going to benefit him and benefit the Leafs.
Armstrong knows the game, and has been an executive for quite a bit, being assistant GM of the Blues and becoming the Coyotes GM in 2020.
The 3M Line: Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, Matias Maccelli
So should fans take his word when he believes the Maccelli deal will help out the Leafs?
Yes, they really should. Not only does Toronto have a blossoming star on their hands who has been held back on a middling team, but at only 24, with his confidence and skillset; it could be massive.
Maccelli struggled this season yes, and there's some concerns there but over his previous two seasons had 106 points in 146 games (28 goals, 78 assists), was solid defensively, and though he's not big; he's active.
Maccelli goes from helping Nick Bjugstad and Clayton Keller to potentially Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
Nothing against Bjugstad or Keller, but as much as they led the scoring charge in Arizona, Matthews is one of the greatest of this generation, and Knies is just turning into a phenom.
Maccelli's creativity and speed will help them offensively, and he's more than capable of helping out in his own end, plus will have the luxury of Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, and Brandon Carlo behind him.
There's a chance he breaks 60+ points, and if Matthews is at full health that makes Maccelli even more capable of breaking that mark.
While Mitch Marner is a one of a kind player who is going to be hard to replace, they've got a great consolation prize in Maccelli, who could turn a lot of heads in 2025-26.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 15 | 1120 ANSWERS Utah GM Explains Decision Behind Maccelli Trade with Maple Leafs Are you excited for Matias Maccelli to play for the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 935 | 83.5 % |
| No | 185 | 16.5 % |
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