Matias Maccelli was attempting to make a putt when his friend began yelling about a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"I was at the golf course trying to make a putt and then my friend started yelling that I just got traded to Toronto, so it was a pretty exciting golf round," he said with a smile over Zoom on Monday morning, before admitting he didn't make the putt.
"I was super pumped, excited to be part of the Leafs now, and it was just a super exciting moment."
The former Utah Mammoth forward was acquired from the Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2027 conditional third-round pick the day before free agency opened. After having a down year— scoring 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 55 games—which Maccelli says came down to ice time and limited opportunity, the Finn wants to make sure that season was an anomaly.
"I still know I'm a better player than I was back in Utah," Maccelli said, "I know I got it still in me, so now I just got to show people that again."
Maple Leafs Trade for Matias Maccelli: Why Toronto Acquired Winger From Utah MammothThe Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027, which will convert to a second-round draft pick in 2029 if Maccelli record at least 51 points in the 2025-26 NHL season.
Maccelli's agent worked with Utah to facilitate a trade this summer. There were many teams interested in the forward's services, with Toronto showing the most interest. That caught Maccelli's eye.
"Definitely right from the start, I told my agent that I would love to play for the Leafs," he said.
With Mitch Marner leaving for the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto needed to replace at least some of the playmaking that the 100-point forward brought to the table. Maccelli's two years before the 2024-25 season saw him score 106 points (28 goals and 78 assists) across 146 games.
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The Maple Leafs believe Maccelli can come into the fold after a down year and provide a bit of that offensive playmaking, potentially for Auston Matthews, who's now missing a playmaker on his right wing.
"When he came into the league, his first two years were, he's a dynamic playmaker. When you look at some of the areas that we need to address, playmaking ability was one of them, and we think there's a bet here on a player that we think can rebound from the season he had this year," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on July 1.
"With some of the players that we have, ultimately, it'll come down to the fits and the matches and where they all go, so you play around with it on the board. But we just felt at the price that it cost us that this was a chance for a young player who's got some dynamic skill and ability. It was certainly worth the bet."
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Maccelli, though, believes he's "ready" to play in Toronto's top six and would love to get the chance to skate on either one of Matthews or John Tavares' wings next season.
"I would definitely love that. Playing with a guy like that would be great," he said, thinking about playing alongside Matthews. "I'll make sure I'll be in shape if I get a chance to play with Auston or any of the top guys in Toronto, so that would be super good."
The forward is spending his summer at home in Turku, Finland, working on all facets of his game ahead of next season. He's prioritizing his size, strength, shooting, and passing in hopes that he'll return to the form he was in two seasons ago.
"I've been working a lot this summer on my game more than maybe the previous years," Maccelli said.
"Just have to be comfortable again with the puck and make plays, all that kind of stuff. I've definitely putting the work in this summer and ready to go."
Why the Maple Leafs Are Expected to Target Top-Six Forward Help Through Trades, Not Free AgencyThe Toronto Maple Leafs have a Mitch Marner-sized hole in their lineup opted for a sign and trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. But when the clock struck noon for the opening of free agency, the Leafs were quiet.
Having played in hockey markets like Utah (and Arizona before that), Maccelli doesn't know what to expect playing in a city like Toronto. He'll be entering a new team, only knowing Shane Doan, Toronto's special advisor to Treliving, and nobody else.
But Maccelli is excited for the next chapter in his hockey career and hopes to do right by Toronto, who's making a smart bet by bringing the forward into the organization.
"I'm super super excited for this opportunity to play for the Leafs next year and can't wait to get going, can't wait to get in the city of Toronto and meet everyone there and just to get going.
"Super excited."
(Top photo of Maccelli: Nick Wosika / Imagn Images)