The Toronto Maple Leafs saw forward Matias Maccelli leave the team in free agency.
Maccelli was set to be an RFA, but Toronto opted not to extend him a qualifying offer of $4.1 million to retain his rights. That meant he became an unrestricted free agent after just one season in Toronto.
After one year in Toronto, Maccelli signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the New York Islanders, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun.
The Maple Leafs acquired Maccelli in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027 from the Utah Mammoth. The pick could have become a second-round pick in 2029 if the Maple Leafs qualified for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs and Maccelli scored 51 points, yet neither happened.
However, Toronto still paid a reasonable price to acquire Maccelli, but he didn’t fit in with the Maple Leafs. He ended up recording 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points in 71 games this season with the Maple Leafs and was a healthy scratch at times.
So, Maccelli now goes to the Islanders and should have a middle-six role with New York and add some secondary scoring.
Maccelli Was a Healthy Scratch in Toronto
Toronto acquired Maccelli to be a top-six forward and help fill the void of Mitch Marner.
Yet, Maccelli struggled to fit in, and he was a healthy scratch at times as then-head coach Craig Berube wanted to see more from him.
“I think he obviously wants to play. We all know that — everybody wants to play — but he has handled it positively. He knows that he has to be better. We put him in the Washington game, and there wasn’t a lot there. I thought he struggled in that game. We won the last couple, so I am not going to change the lineup. We’ll see,” Berube said.
Maccelli showed flashes of being an impact player for the Maple Leafs. But new GM John Chyaka decided to go in a different direction.
Maple Leafs Wanted to Add More Depth Players
Toronto entered free agency hoping to add more depth players to the roster.
“It is depth, for the most part. There are a few holes we have, but we are going to be really focused on the depth early and see if we can round out the roster,” Chayka said before the NHL Draft. “Again, there are some bigger swings we’ll take and look at some things, but ultimately, it is a two-sided marketplace. There are some smart agents out there who are trying to maximize the value for their players as well. We are going to be disciplined in the marketplace and make sure we do our best to make the team the best possible.”
Toronto did just that as the Maple Leafs signed winger Jack Roslovic to a two-year deal worth $4 million per season.
Roslovic skated in 69 games with the Edmonton Oilers last season, recording 21 goals and 15 assists for 36 points. The year prior, he had 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points in 81 games with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Toronto, meanwhile, is expected to do more in free agency to round out its roster.
Maple Leafs Lose 14-Goal Scorer to Eastern Rival in Free Agency