Matias Maccelli’s scenario in Toronto has slowly gone sideways. Healthy scratched seven straight games; he’s now sidelined with sickness. Even when he’s been within the lineup, there hasn’t been a lot runway. 4 targets and 5 assists in 22 video games isn’t nothing, however it’s additionally not sufficient to anchor a spot when belief appears to be slipping.
As soon as a artistic, middle-six playmaker with Arizona (and later Utah), Maccelli now seems like a participant caught between techniques, expectations, and alternative. He’s the unsuitable DNA for Toronto, however that doesn’t imply he received’t work someplace else.
That’s the place an attention-grabbing concept begins to type. Why not provide Maccelli to the Predators for former Maple Leafs Michael Bunting?
Why Nashville Would possibly Take a look at Maccelli
Nashville feels caught in impartial proper now. This isn’t a roster that screams playoff push, which normally means it’s time to assume youthful as an alternative of harder. Maccelli checks that field. He’s nonetheless an RFA, nonetheless in his mid-20s, and never that far faraway from two seasons the place the offence was actual. This yr’s miss with the Maple Leafs seems extra like a case of circumstance than a decline.
For Nashville, he can be a guess on upside and timeline. Maccelli received’t change the Predators’ identification, and he’s by no means going to play a heavy sport. He can transfer the puck and create transition offense. In that, he’s a unique kettle of fish from what Michael Bunting brings.
In Toronto, he (and everybody else) is taking part in with a lot strain that it makes issues tense on the ice, however when you can take away the sensation that one mistake places him within the press field, and there’s room for Maccelli’s confidence to come back again. If it did, he could possibly be a helpful participant in Nashville.
Why Toronto Retains Coming Again to Michael Bunting
On the opposite aspect, Michael Bunting is a identified amount in Toronto — and that’s exactly the purpose. He’d match properly within the middle-six, however might step onto the highest line, too. He confirmed he might try this as a rookie alongside Matthews and Marner—sort of a pint-sized model of Matthew Knies with out the upside. However not having Knies’ upside doesn’t imply Bunting didn’t make it work.
Bunting didn’t simply experience shotgun with Matthews. He performed proper into the mess of playoff hockey — chirping, getting underneath pores and skin, going to greasy areas. He knew precisely what the Maple Leafs had been asking from him. The penalties got here with it. And the playoffs acquired messy then, however he’s older and wiser.
However he by no means floated, by no means disappeared, and by no means appeared overwhelmed by the market. He liked Toronto, and a ton of followers liked him again. Since leaving, his numbers have been okay however unspectacular.
He’s nonetheless helpful on the ability play, nonetheless prepared to play contained in the dots, nonetheless producing in spurts. On a staff like Nashville, that worth is considerably muted. On a Maple Leafs roster that continues to seek for edge and emotional chew, it’s amplified.
How the Commerce Would possibly Truly Work
Straight up, this deal in all probability doesn’t fairly stability. Maccelli is youthful, cheaper, and underneath staff management. Bunting is 30, dearer, and a pending UFA. If I had been normal supervisor Brad Treliving, I’d ask for Bunting and a mid-round choose coming again to Toronto. And, Nashville might retain a little bit of wage to make the wage cap cleaner for Toronto.
Actually, the deal is nothing flashy. Simply sufficient to account for age, management, and contract standing. Within the brief time period, Toronto wins as a result of Bunting helps instantly. He stabilizes a line, provides playoff credibility, and doesn’t want a studying curve. You recognize precisely what you’re getting — warts and all.
In the long run, Nashville might sound to win. However Maccelli was at all times the unsuitable slot in Toronto from the get-go. There was by no means an area the place he made sense with the Maple Leafs. If he finds his sport once more, the Predators might find yourself with a youthful offensive piece who nonetheless has room to develop. That’s a bet rebuilding or retooling groups ought to be prepared to take.
Maccelli Leaving Toronto and Bunting Returning May Be Good Timing
Ultimately, that is much less about “successful” a commerce and extra about timing. Toronto continues to be attempting to open a window and transfer a participant who clearly doesn’t match this administration’s name for a unique DNA.
Nashville is determining which path it’s even dealing with. Generally the cleanest offers come when two groups want very various things — and each gamers want a reset. Maccelli represented the hope for a house run in Toronto, however it was a swing and a miss. He has a greater likelihood in Nashville to develop into a task that matches him.
Why not?
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