NHL rumors: Top insider names $24.6 million Maple Leafs D-man & Mattias Maccelli in latest top 32 trade board

In Chris Johnston's latest edition of The Athletic's NHL Trade Board, two interesting Toronto Maple Leafs have landed spots among the league's most-watched trade candidates as the holiday roster freeze looms.

Restricted free agent forward Matias Maccelli checks in at No. 11, while veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo sits at No. 25 on Johnston's ranking of 32 players who could be on the move.

Macceli has struggled to find consistency with the Maple Leafs. With a manageable $3.425 million cap hit and pending RFA Status, Johnston noted that the acquisition cost for interested teams would be low, positioning the 25-year-old Finnish forward as a potential buy-low upside play for clubs seeking offensive pop.

"A frequent healthy scratch of late, it’s safe to say that Maccelli hasn’t quite been the fit the Leafs were hoping he’d be when they acquired him from Utah over the summer. Maccelli has good vision and no shortage of offensive skill, but his game challenges a coach’s trust. He’s undersized, which can be a barrier to winning puck battles, and his commitment on the defensive end remains a work in progress. The acquisition cost won’t be huge — the Leafs got him for a third-round pick."

Further down the board is defenseman Brandon Carlo, who is currently signed to a six-year, $24.6 million contract. The 29-year-old is currently sidelined until the new year following foot surgery.

However, Carlo remains an important penalty-killer and big-minute defenseman with a hefty playoff experience. He is highlighted as one of the few Leafs assets capable of returning surplus value in a potential shake-up deal.

"He is among a small handful of players who could bring the struggling Leafs back some surplus value in a shakeup deal. Carlo is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who can kill penalties and help shut the game down. He’s not overly physical, but he’s no stranger to big-game hockey, with 85 career Stanley Cup playoff games on his resume. He’s signed for one season beyond this one, too," Johnston wrote.

How have Matias Maccelli and Brandon Carlo fared for the Maple Leafs?

Maccelli was acquired from the Utah Mammoth in the offseason for a third-round pick. However, he has struggled to find consistency and has been a frequent healthy scratch in the Maple Leafs' lineup. Maccelli has nine points through four goals and five assists in 22 games.

Brandon Carlo was brought in by the Maple Leafs from the Boston Bruins at this year's trade deadline. Due to the injury, his season has been limited to just 18 games, accumulating two points.

Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet responds to critics questioning his loyalty to Canada, Bobby Orr's support following 4 Nations drama

Edited by Abhishek Dilta