Matias Maccelli’s Role in Toronto Is Unclear—and the Bruins Are Watching

Trade speculation continues to swirl around Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matias Maccelli, who spent a ton of time on the ice Thursday morning talking to head coach Craig Berube. The role the Maple Leafs had envisioned for Maccelli hasn’t exactly worked out as planned, and one team quietly emerging as a potential fit is the Boston Bruins.

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Maccelli’s situation in Toronto has become increasingly curious. As first reported by David Alter of The Hockey News, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was seen engaging in an extended conversation with Maccelli ahead of morning skate in Washington. The interaction stood out, particularly because Maccelli has been a healthy scratch for the entire month of December.

Sportsnet’s Luke Fox added that Berube wants to get Maccelli back into a game “soon,” though not immediately. The 25-year-old winger hasn’t dressed since Nov. 28, and his role with the Leafs remains unclear.

That uncertainty has caught the attention of rival teams, including Boston.

Are the Bruins A Team To Watch For on Maccelli?

According to reports, the Bruins are expected to explore the market for a scoring winger ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline. Always in the market, the team has played better than many would have predicted this season, so adding or buying low might be in their arsenal.

On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that Boston had previously shown interest in Maccelli when he was available and that the Bruins might remain in the mix.

“I know they’re still looking for a scoring winger,” Friedman said. “I’m not sure if Matias Maccelli’s going to be their guy still, or if they look for someone else.”

Maccelli has recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) in 22 games this season, but he has struggled to secure consistent ice time in Toronto. There was a time when Maccelli’s ceiling was quite high. During his time with the Utah Mammoth, Maccelli posted 49 points in 64 games in 2022–23 and followed it up with a 57-point campaign the following season. That’s why the Leafs added him, thinking he could be a partial solution when Mitch Marner was moved to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The offensive drop-off has been a concern, and some believe the winger could rebound in a different system. For Boston, the appeal would be upside at a relatively low cost. If he continues to struggle or doesn’t make the lineup, Toronto may simply want to move on from the contract and recoup the conditional 2027 third-round pick they traded to acquire him.

With the Dec. 20 roster freeze approaching, Maccelli’s name is one to watch.

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