Maple Leafs trade for Mitch Marner's replacement in buy-low deal with Mammoth

The Toronto Maple Leafs surely aren't done.

But on Monday, they traded for at least part of the production to replace the soon-to-be-departed winger Mitch Marner.

The Maple Leafs announced they sent a third-round pick to Utah for Matias Maccelli.

There was a lot of immediate praise for the deal on X.

Leafs writer Ryan Ma wrote, "He’s a clear buy low value option to replace Marner’s offense."

The 24-year old Finnish lefty was a fourth-round pick in 2019 by Arizona who stayed with the organization through its move to Utah.

Maccelli has played in four NHL seasons overall, with 37 goals and 93 assists in 224 games.

He struggled in 2024-25, with just eight goals and 10 assists.

MORE: The reason Mitch Marner doesn't want to return to the Maple Leafs

The two prior seasons, he had totaled 38 and then 40 assists, so he's a great passer and should help unlock things in Toronto.

Maccelli is less of a two-way player than Marner, with almost no block or hit production to speak of.

He likely won't be the first-line winger, but could slot onto the second line smoothly and work well with John Tavares.

Brad Marchand could still be in the Maple Leafs' future, but Maccelli is a great start on the eve of free agency.

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