Latest news with #Treliving
Hamilton Spectator
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Maple Leafs need a new winger to play with Auston Matthews. Why they're betting on Matias Maccelli
Matias Maccelli was about to make a putt on a golf course in Turku, Finland when his buddy started screaming that he'd been traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs . 'I didn't make that putt, but I still played a decent round,' Maccelli said in an introductory conference call with reporters Monday. 'I was obviously super pumped, excited to be the part of the Leafs.' Maccelli is a 24-year-old, five-foot-11, left-shot playmaking winger who has played both side of the ice. There's a decent chance Maccelli auditions on right wing, in the spot vacated by Mitch Marner. That's prime real estate, given Auston Matthews would be his centre with Matthew Knies on the left wing. 'I would definitely love that,' Maccelli said. 'Playing with guys like that would be great. So 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, that would be super good.' That's probably the idea when GM Brad Treliving acquired him for a conditional third-round pick in 2027. It would become a second-round draft pick in 2029 if Maccelli records at least 51 points in the 2025-26 NHL season. '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,' Treliving said recently about the trade. 'It was certainly worth a bet.' It was a buy-low trade for Treliving as he looks around for top-six winger. Maccelli turned into just that three seasons ago in Arizona, with 11 goals, 38 assists that earned him some votes as rookie of the year in 2022-23. He finished fourth in voting for the Calder trophy. He followed that up with 17 goals and 40 assists to finish third in team scoring. But the team's move to Utah brought some bumps, and in particular, bruises. Injuries left him behind the eight-ball, and he fell out of favour with the coaching staff. He averaged just 13 minutes 44 seconds of ice time, the lowest of his career. He ended the season with eight goals, 10 assists and a minus-13. 'It comes down to ice time and opportunity,' Maccelli said. 'It wasn't obviously the best year for me. But I know I'm a better player than (that). I've got it in me so I'll, I've got to show people that again.' Maccelli was at his peak when he was at left wing, with centre Nick Bjugstad and right wing Lawson Crouse. He played more with those two than with any other pair. In the 2023-24 season — the last for the Coyotes — the three were Arizona's top line in terms of possession. No combination of those two without the other fared as well as all three together. So it's perhaps even more likely Maccelli will end up on the left wing with John Tavares. 'He was a player that our staff had been excited about for a while,' Treliving said. 'With some of the players that we have, ultimately it will come down to the fits and the matches and where they all go. So you play around with it on the board.' Maccelli, born in Finland to an American mother whose last name he uses, played two years in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. He has represented Finland both on its world junior team and its national senior team. He played in the Finnish top league (for Ilves) and in the American Hockey League before getting the call to the Coyotes. He has yet to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 'I've been working a lot this summer on my game, more than previous years,' he said. 'I have to be comfortable again with the puck and making plays. '(Doing) a lot of stuff in the gym trying to get stronger, faster, and then some stuff on the ice. Shooting and passing. Normal stuff. Just trying to get some reps.' He has no links to the Maple Leafs other than Shane Doan, who was an executive in Arizona before joining Treliving's staff. 'I'm super, super excited for this opportunity to play for the Leafs next year. And I can't wait to get going.' Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson was among 11 players who elected for salary arbitration over the weekend. Both sides can continue to negotiate. Arbitration hearings will be held from July 20 to Aug. 4. Robertson also announced he married his girlfriend, Emma. 'Same team forever,' he posted on Instagram.
Edmonton Journal
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Could Maple Leafs' GM Treliving reel in Nazem Kadri this summer?
Article content Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving will spend his summer on a fishing trip, casting his trade net across the National Hockey League. Article content Article content That would be the Calgary Flames ' Nazem Kadri, who has four years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $7 million US. Article content We're not suggesting anything is imminent trade-wise between the Leafs and Flames. Article content Article content An NHL source said on Wednesday, however, that Kadri would not let his no-move clause stand in the way of agreeing to a trade to Toronto. Article content Article content At the same time, it was stressed to us that Kadri enjoys playing in Calgary and is not looking to be moved. He hasn't been asked to waive his no-move, either. The Leafs haven't had a centre of Kadri's ilk — an emotional producer on offence who plays with a nasty edge — since they traded him to the Colorado Avalanche on July 1, 2019. Article content Suspensions during his time with the Leafs, especially those that came during the 2018 and 2019 playoffs, paved Kadri's way out of Toronto. In the years since, Kadri was suspended for eight games in the 2021 playoffs for a hit on Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, though, he has not run afoul of the NHL law since then. Article content In 2022, Kadri had 15 points in 16 games as the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. Article content Article content You don't need to go far to draw a line that connects Treliving and Kadri, the Leafs' first-round pick in 2009. Before he was sent to the Avs six years ago, Treliving, then the GM in Calgary, had a trade done with Kyle Dubas to acquire Kadri. But Kadri invoked his no-trade clause and it didn't happen. Article content Treliving bided his time and, in August 2022, he signed Kadri to the seven-year, $49-million US contract that is in place now. Article content Treliving's interest in Kadri, who turns 35 in October, has never waned. Article content One obstacle that could stop Treliving from making a trade of significance — whether it's for Kadri or another player — is his lack of assets. The Leafs not only don't have a first-round pick in each of the next two years, they don't have a bushel of prospects to potentially include in trades. Article content Any one of Max Domi, Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf or Nick Robertson could be dangled, but why would the Flames, who struggle to score goals, give up Kadri in a deal where something of solid substance is not part of the return?
Edmonton Journal
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Matthew Knies believes the post-Mitch Marner Leafs can succeed
Article content Treliving was relieved to have 'a big piece' settled ahead of July 1. 'These RFA files can go well into the summer. I commend Matty, his representatives and (assistant GM) Brandon Pridham. We all dug in on this for what seemed like months and came to a good conclusion. 'We think he's just scratching the surface of what he's capable of.' Knies, who had 29 goals and 29 assists in his second full season said John Tavares' decision to come back with a hometown discount a few days ago made a major impression. Knies stayed at then team captain Tavares' house when he broke in a couple of years ago. 'That means a lot that he believes in the program and wants to stay,' Knies said. 'I've learned a ton from that guy and look forward to four more years soaking up all that knowledge. 'We have a great group of unbelievable players, we're continually making the playoffs and making pushes. That was a huge part of (wanting to return). The culture and the city, I just love it all.' Knies planned to celebrate his new deal with friends and family during Fourth of July week in his home country, but said he'll go right into training for 2025-26. 'I don't think I have to get any heavier,' said the 227-pounder. 'There is a lot of room in the skating aspect to be better and faster, turning a bit of that weight into muscle and becoming quicker and faster, more prepared, get stronger in the smaller areas (of the ice).'
Edmonton Journal
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Maple Leafs GM hopeful in acquiring 'dynamic' playmaker Matias Maccelli
Article content After he was named to the NHL's all-rookie team in 2022-23 with the Arizona Coyotes, Maccelli had 17 goals and 40 assists in 82 games in 2023-24. 'He's a dynamic playmaker, and when you look at some of the areas that we need to address, playmaking ability was one of them,' Treliving said. 'There's a bet here on a player that we think can rebound from the season he had and with some of the players that we have. 'Ultimately, it will come down to the fits and where they all go. We just felt, at the price that it cost us, that this was a chance for a young player who has some dynamic skill and ability, it was worth the bet.' To get the 24-year-old Finland native, Treliving sent a third-round pick in 2027 to Utah. If the Leafs make the playoffs next season and Maccelli has at least 51 points, the pick becomes a second-round choice in 2029. Hours after the Maccelli trade, the Leafs re-signed fourth-line winger Steven Lorentz to a three-year extension with an average annual value of $1.35 million US. 'Stevie's come in and fit really well with our group (after coming to camp last year on a PTO),' Treliving said. 'He's happy here. What's the old saying: 'Don't something with happy.' I'm glad it worked out. It's good to have Steve back.'
Hamilton Spectator
01-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
NHL free agency: What's left for the Maple Leafs with Mitch Marner gone?
It doesn't look as if Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has a lot to do when free agency opens at noon Tuesday. He did his own heavy lifting, getting Steven Lorentz, Matthew Knies and John Tavares to sign contract extensions the past few days. He also added centre Nicolas Roy in a sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner with the Vegas Golden Knights, and winger Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth for a conditional third-round pick in 2027. The Leafs already have 22 NHL players re-signed, with their own free agents still to deal with. Those included unrestricted free-agents Max Pacioretty and Pontus Holmberg, and restricted free-agent Nick Robertson. And he watched helplessly as some of his free-agent targets re-signed with their own teams — 37-year-old Brad Marchand highest among them in Florida. For a GM who said he wanted to 'change the DNA' of the Leafs, Treliving doesn't have a lot of roster openings to do it. He is armed with about $8.9 million in salary-cap space. Teams can go over the cap by 10 per cent during the summer, or $9.5 million. Trades and demotions to the minors might free up more room. Treliving overhauled the Leafs' goaltending (Anthony Stolarz) and defence ( Chris Tanev , Oliver Ekman-Larsson) last off-season. This summer, work needs to be done at forward. Here's a look at who the Leafs could be targeting: The best available player as far as offence and the most like Marner: a playmaker who can score. But Ehlers is a left-winger and may be a better fit with on the second line. He is not as strong defensively, though, and the Winnipeg Jets still hoped to re-sign the player they drafted ninth in 2014, one spot after the Leafs chose Nylander. The Leafs are said to have liked Ehlers as much as they liked Nylander, and July 1 could be the chance to have both. The 29-year-old has 225 goals and 295 assists in 674 regular-season games — fifth in goals and assists, and sixth in points, in Winnipeg/Atlanta Thrashers history. AFP Analytics estimates a salary at just over $8 million a year on a long-term deal. It was an odd season for just about anybody associated with the Vancouver Canucks last year, and Boeser was no exception. He dipped to 25 goals from 40, and 50 points from 73. He'll still command in the range of $8 million to $9 million a season, but may have his eye on the Flyers, who hired his favourite coach Rick Tocchet. But Boeser has also long admired Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who became more of a playmaker this season. Together, the goals could mount. There's still fire in the belly of the three-time Stanley Cup champion. Matthews admired him as a kid, and it'd be easy to see him on the right wing on Toronto's top line for about $3 million. He had 21 goals and 38 assists last year. He's 36, but that's no longer a sin in the hockey world. The Leafs could right a wrong by bringing back Brown, drafted by Toronto in 2012 and traded in 2019. He's a low-maintenance professional, a high-energy forward who can forecheck and kill penalties. Brown had 13 goals in a rebound year with Edmonton. He's been to the Stanley Cup final twice and performed well both times. A short-term deal at under $3 million a year would seem about right. The 29-year-old from Bolton was one of Treliving's draft picks in Calgary, a sixth-rounder in 2015 who panned out. His offence levelled off the past couple of years, after a 35-goal season in Calgary made folks take notice in 2021-22. He's a two-way player with speed, but a bit undersized at five-foot-10. Treliving liked him before and may like him again. He had a $5.8-million cap hit last year in Washington. That price should drop after 14-goal season. The younger brother of Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev likes to block shots, too. He's defensively aware and physical. The 33-year-old forward from East York is coming off a cap hit of $3.5 million and will field offers well under that. He had 10 goals and 12 assists for Seattle and Winnipeg last season. He'd be an easy fit on any fourth line. The 25-year-old, six-foot-one centre seems haunted by the exceptional status he was granted to play in the QMJHL as a 15-year-old in 2015. Expectations in Detroit and Chicago seemed too high. He may never be the offensive player scouts expected, but he'd fill a role in the bottom six with size and defensive awareness. Getting bought out, as the Kraken did after they acquired him this off-season, usually lights a fire under a young player to prove everybody wrong. The 26-year-old winger became an unrestricted free agent when the Ducks declined to make him a qualifying offer. He is six-foot-five with 220 games to his credit. The forward got just five goals in 62 games last year, though. He's got a high hockey IQ and battles for pucks. A second-rounder in 2019, Leason made $1.05 million last season.
