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New York Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Matias Maccelli eyes top-six role in a fresh start with the Maple Leafs
Matias Maccelli would rather not look back on last season, when the up-and-coming playmaking winger saw his production stall with the Utah Hockey Club. 'It wasn't obviously the best year for myself,' Maccelli said from Finland. Maccelli is blessed with hands and vision that can see him turn opposition defenders on their heels. In 2022-23, Maccelli finished with 49 points in 64 games. That was good for second in rookie scoring and fourth in Calder Trophy voting. The future looked bright: Maccelli turned his rookie season into a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.425 million. Advertisement Yet when the calendar turned to 2025, he wound up playing just six of Utah's final 31 games last season. The Toronto Maple Leafs sent a conditional 2027 third-round draft pick for Maccelli, 24, ahead of free agency opening in June. It was a low-cost bet for Leafs GM Brad Treliving with Maccelli entering the final year of his contract. It's a bet everyone involved is hoping will pay off. 'I still know I'm a better player than I was. I know I still have it in me. Now I've just got to show people again,' Maccelli said in his first media availability as a Leaf on Monday morning. On a young Arizona Coyotes team with their better players — particularly Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley — still coming into their own, it felt likely Maccelli would enjoy a top-six role throughout his contract. Things didn't go as hoped last season. He fell out of favour with Utah head coach Andre Tourigny. 'It comes down to ice time and opportunity,' Maccelli said of why his production dropped. Maccelli can point the finger at a lack of opportunity, but he also acknowledged he fell short when he was on the ice. He wasn't delivering his high-end skill consistently enough. 'His A-game has not been as productive as it has been in the past,' Tourigny said of Maccelli in March, adding that the forward had been handling his time in the press box like a professional. But with the way the Leafs roster is currently constructed, his new coach Craig Berube can't afford to laud Maccelli's attitude alone. The Leafs have lost a 100-point, playmaking-first player from their lineup in Mitch Marner. They've seen a drop-off in that kind of playmaking production from Max Domi, as well. '(Maccelli) is a dynamic playmaker,' Treliving said. 'When you look at some of the areas we need to address, playmaking ability was one of them.' Advertisement Yes, the Leafs are making a bet on Maccelli. But they need that bet to pay off in a real way. There are two gaping holes in the Leafs' top six, one on each wing, assuming John Tavares slots in as the second-line centre. Treliving hasn't been shy about his desire to add an additional top-six winger to his roster. And so it feels likely that given Berube's predilection for checking-heavy lines lower down the lineup, Maccelli will get runway in the other open top-six role to start the season. 'We think there is a bet here on a player we think can rebound from the season he had this year,' Treliving said. 'With some of the players we have, ultimately it will come down to the fits and matches and where they all go. You play around with it on the board, but we just felt that at the price it cost us, this was a chance for a young player who has some dynamic skill and ability. It was certainly worth the bet.' Maccelli's name has constantly popped up in trade rumours going back to last season's trade deadline. Heading to Toronto could be the fresh start he needs. 'Definitely right from the start, I told my agent that I would love to play for the Leafs,' Maccelli said. Now it's time to show it. Through his time as a Coyote, Maccelli found his best chemistry with Nick Bjugstad and Lawson Crouse. Both scored 20-plus goals in 2023-24 thanks in some part to Maccelli feeding them with his creative vision. Berube could slot Maccelli alongside Tavares and William Nylander for an offence-first, oft-sheltered second line. The idea of a gifted, pass-first Maccelli meshing with Nylander and Tavares doesn't seem far-fetched at first glance. Nylander and Tavares both have shoot-first tendencies and finished first and second in Leafs goal scoring last season. Adding a playmaker to the mix to start the season with lower defensive expectations feels like a plug-and-play option for Berube. Advertisement There's no guarantee Maccelli will work in a top-six role in Toronto. But it sort of has to. Bobby McMann's game lagged late last season and in the playoffs. Domi and Nick Robertson don't appear to be viable candidates for a top-six role as things stand. And Maccelli's playing style, combined with his 5-foot-11 frame, doesn't make him all that compatible with a regular bottom-six role under Berube. Maccelli said he's hunkering down this summer to improve his game, 'more than maybe in previous years.' He's trying to add size to his frame and explosiveness to his stride; Maccelli appears to have an understanding already of the increased physicality expected of him, even higher up in Berube's lineup. But how long will his adjustment take? Maccelli is coming from a team that never made the playoffs during his tenure, and a franchise that doesn't have the eyeballs and expectations he will find in Toronto. He is coming to just his second NHL franchise with legitimate expectations of him and his game — and, as Maccelli himself noted, he's going to a city that's new for him 'without really knowing anyone.' If the Leafs want the trade to pay off, management and coaching staff have to at least be patient with his adjustment period. Doing so could exponentially increase the odds that the fit both sides are hoping for is a success. 'I really don't even have much expectation. I don't really know,' Maccelli said. 'It will for sure be different than it was in Utah and definitely different than it was in Arizona.'
New York Times
27-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Utah Mammoth NHL Draft guide: Picks, best fits and analysis
The Utah Mammoth have six picks in the 2025 NHL Draft: Nos. 4, 46, 78, 110, 142, 174. Here's what to expect. Utah has a strong group of young forwards led by a lot of recent high picks, including Daniil But, Logan Cooley, Tij Iginla and Dylan Guenther. The Mammoth have good young defenseman as well in Dmitri Simashev and Maveric Lamoureux, but their impact talent is much more prominent up front than in their blue line prospects. In recent mock drafts, Corey Pronman has projected the following picks: 4. Brady Martin, C 46. Jack Murtagh, LW 78. Tommy Lafreniere, RW 110. Mason Moe, C 142. Luke Vlooswyk, D 174. Ryan Miller, C (Photo of Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong: Chris Gardner / Getty Images)
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
As Panthers, Oilers Cruise, Team USA Earns Memorable Gold
TOPSHOT - US forward #92 Logan Cooley (C) celebrates after his team mates US forward #72 Tage ... More Thompson (L) scored the goal to win gold during the overtime of the IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship final match between Switzerland and USA in Stockholm, on May 25, 2025. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images) The Stanley Cup Finals is starting to take form. The defending champion Florida Panthers are clearly on their way to the an appearance in the title round for a third straight year. They are doing whatever they want when facing the suddenly searching Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals and already have a 3-0 series lead. The Hurricanes have lost 15 straight games in the penultimate round. The Edmonton Oilers consider an appearance in the SCF to be unfinished business after losing to the Panthers in seven games a year ago. They have a 2-1 lead over the Dallas Stars following one-sided victories in Games 2 and 3, and if they hadn't collapsed in the third period of Game 1, the Oilers would also be leading by a 3-0 margin. Unless the Stars' Mikko Rantanen can return to the form he had in the first round against the Colorado Avalanche – scoring 4 points in a period in two consecutive games – the Oilers are on their way to the title round once again. The Stanley Cup playoffs were temporarily shunted to the back burner Sunday by the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Stockholm. Team USA won its first world title since 1933 when Tage Thompson whistled a wrist shot into the net at the 2:02 mark of overtime to give the Americans a 1-0 win over upset-minded Switzerland. Team USA may have had more famous victories in the 1960 and 1980 Winter Olympics but winning the world title for the first time in 92 years is a significant achievement. For the record, Team USA – and several of the other teams in the annual championship – consists of top NHL players from teams that did not make the Stanley Cup playoffs or were eliminated in the first round. Thompson, a 6-6 winger from the always-struggling Buffalo Sabres, is one of the best scorers in the NHL. He scored 44 goals during the regular season and sensed his opportunity in the three-on-three extra session after taking a pass from Logan Cooley of the Utah Mammoth (last season's 'Hockey Club) and ended the drama. In addition to Thompson, the other U.S. hero was goaltender Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins. STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - MAY 25: Jeremy Swayman #1 of team USA lifts the IIHF trophy after the 2025 Ice ... More Hockey World Championship match between Switzerland and USA at Avicii Arena on May 25, 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by) He stopped 25 shots in the title game and was at his best throughout the tournament after a disappointing season with the Bruins. He had a 7-0-0 record, a 1.69 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage for Team USA and was overjoyed at his team's victory and his personal turnaround. Swayman was 22-29-7 with a 3.11 GAA and an .892 save percentage for the Bruins during the regular season. "I tell you what, this tournament and this group rejuvenated me as an individual," Swayman said. "I gained so much more confidence. I found my game again. I was happy again. I just learned so much. This year was obviously an up-and-down year for me personally, and to come here and be surrounded by such quality human beings and getting a job done, that's a turning point for me in my life. I couldn't be more excited for it. "It's a long time coming for USA Hockey, and to be part of the group that finally did it is surreal. I couldn't be happier man." After Thompson scored his golden goal and the IIHF handed out the gold medals, the team accepted the World Championship trophy in an emotional manner. Team USA captain Clayton Keller accepted the trophy, and he was joined by four of his teammates. They accepted the trophy by revealing a Johnny Gaudreau Team USA jersey. Gaudreau, a former star for Team USA, was tragically killed last August when he and his brother Matthew were hit by an allegedly impaired driver as they rode their bicycles in New Jersey. Winning the World Championships may not be the equivalent of the Stanley Cup or Olympic gold, but when a team wins it first title in more than nine decade, it's worth celebrating.
New York Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
U.S. wins first World Championship since 1933 as Tage Thompson's OT goal downs Swiss
Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson scored in overtime to lift the United States to a dramatic 1-0 victory over Switzerland in the IIHF World Championship gold medal game on Sunday in Stockholm. The goal gave the United States men's hockey program its first World Championship since 1933. Team USA wins gold at the #MensWorlds for the first time in 92 years thanks to Tage Thompson 🏆 🎥 @TSN_Sports — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 25, 2025 Thompson received a pass from Logan Cooley and skated down the right wing. Cooley created a bit of interference by making a beeline to the net, while Thompson unleashed a shot from the top of the right circle that beat Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni, who was magnificent in defeat. Genoni stopped 38 of 39 shots, including a second-period penalty shot stop of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland. Advertisement Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman backstopped the Americans to the victory by stopping all 24 shots he faced. The United States controlled play through most of the 60 regulation minutes but couldn't find a way to beat the 37-year-old Genoni, a longtime member of the Swiss national team. While this is a tournament that traditionally means more in Europe than it does in North America, Team USA did send a fairly strong group of players to the two-week tournament that took place in Denmark and Sweden. Thompson and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski were among the big-name Americans to participate in the tournament. A number of younger American players thrived in this tournament, including Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto, Utah Mammoth forwards Clayton Keller and Cooley, and Anaheim forward Cutter Gauthier. • With all due respect to the United States and Switzerland for advancing to the championship, this tournament will long be remembered for what happened in the quarterfinals, when Canada was stunned by Denmark. No, this wasn't the Olympics or even the 4 Nations Face-off. Still, the Canadian roster did boast its share of star power, which included Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. Also, Jordan Binnington was the man between the pipes, and he's the same person who recently won the 4 Nations Face-off, and there is a very real possibility that he will be Canada's Olympic goaltender in Milan in nine months. Canada was ahead, 1-0, late in the third period when Denmark evened the score with its goaltender pulled and then scored the game-winner with less than a minute remaining to stun Canada. It will go down as one of the most surprising upsets that Canada has ever sustained. • The Americans showed off their depth in this tournament. Many of their biggest names, players who will participate in the Olympics, did not make the trip to Europe this spring. Advertisement And yet, what could be considered the American 'B-team' was still good enough to beat many of the world's best teams. Does it mean anything in regards to the Olympics? Probably not. But it does display ample evidence that the United States is here to stay as a dominant hockey power, its depth very much impressing in this tournament. • One can't deny how impressive the goaltending was in this tournament. Low-scoring games were the norm, but I wouldn't say that teams were simply playing it safe and dumping and chasing. To some extent they were, but the goaltending on display, especially from European teams, was impressive. Canada, in particular, is having difficulty producing strong goaltending these days. The same can't be said of otherwise lesser European hockey nations.
Miami Herald
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
World Championship Final Preview: USA Vs. Switzerland Set To Be A Battle Between Youth And Experience
The stage is set for the 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship final as Team USA is set to take on Team Switzerland on Sunday for a chance to take home the gold medal. These two teams couldn't be more different, which is why this matchup is so intriguing. On paper, one thing that stands out about the USA squad is their youth. They are led by a cast of young, upcoming NHL stars, including Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Shane Pinto, Matty Beniers, and the list goes on and on. Their youth and inexperience in these big tournaments should be somewhat of a weakness, but it's actually been a strength for an American team that plays with a high tempo, making them explosive and difficult to keep up with. 'When you're young, sometimes you're a little bit naive to situations, and that's helped our group,' USA head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. 'We are going to continue to grow and mature. It was nice to see our youth kind of kick in here.' There is also a chip on many of these young player's shoulders that wouldn't be there for veterans. They are hungry to prove themselves at the international level, as many of these American players are just scratching the surface in terms of their potential. 'I think we got a lot of young guys that are looking to prove that they are mature and that they can play on winning teams,' Josh Doan said. 'I think as a young guy, you get put to that side that you don't know how to win yet, but I think we've done a good job of proving that we can defend leads and play in big games.' Team USA also consists of talented players the likes of Tage Thompson, Zach Werenski, Jeremy Swayman, Brady Skjei and Conor Garland. In most sports and international tournaments, the USA is dominant, but not in the hockey World Championship. America hasn't won a gold medal at the World Championship since 1993, and this group has that engraved into their minds. 'It's been (since) 1933, and truly I think that's not good,' Warsofsky said about America's gold-medal drought. 'It's not good at all for us, and we have to start winning this tournament. We addressed it, and we have one more game to go.' While Switzerland's team may not look as flashy on paper, there's an element about their game that can't be seen on paper. Many of these Swiss players have been playing with each other for years and that chemistry gives them a big advantage. It's no coincidence that Switzerland won the silver medal at last year's World Championship. Their long-lasting chemistry sets them apart from other countries. 'I say we have a good consistency now over the past couple of years of the same guys coming in,' J.J. Moser said of why Switzerland is successful. 'We have chemistry in the team and we also can take our experiences from the past years, and that kind of gets us more confidence and more calmness in those situations, if you have experience obviously… 'We're connected, all five guys on the ice and all 20 guys on the team. I think that makes it really hard to play against us.' Team Switzerland is headlined by Kevin Fiala, Timo Meier and Nino Niederreiter. This tournament and team mean everything to the Swiss players. They've grown a bond with each other that is unmatched and honestly wholesome. 'I think team spirit is the key,' Switzerland defenseman Andrea Glauser said. 'We have such good team spirit. We are like brothers, we are like a family.' We'll see on Sunday whether the USA's youth takes them over the top or if Switzerland's experience pays off. Get thelatest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and bysubscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting belowthe article on Copyright 2025 The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
