The New York Islanders may not have chased the loudest name on the market this summer, but they may have landed one of the best fits.
Matias Maccelli arrives on Long Island with a one-year contract and a chance to reset after an uneven season in Toronto. His role bounced around there, and when free agency opened, he was looking for something simple: the right situation.
The Islanders were looking for offense without making a long-term commitment. That match came together quickly.
"I've only heard good things about the area, the fans and the organization," Maccelli told NewYorkIslanders.com after signing his one-year contract. "We had a good conversation and I felt like it will be a good fit for me."
That conversation with general manager Mathieu Darche and head coach Pete DeBoer appears to have done the trick. The Islanders made their pitch, and Maccelli bought in.
What makes this move interesting is the way Maccelli plays. He’s not built around piling up shots.
He’s a creator, a passer, a winger who thinks offense first. That’s exactly the sort of skill set the Islanders have been short on outside of Mathew Barzal.
Since breaking into the league, Maccelli’s 118 assists rank among the best in the 2019 draft class, and his best stretch in Arizona included back-to-back seasons of 38 and 40 assists.
Put that kind of vision next to centers like Bo Horvat, Barzal, Brayden Schenn or even prospect Cal Ritchie, and the appeal is obvious. There’s a path here for Maccelli to rediscover the form that made him so productive earlier in his career.
"There are obviously a lot of good players on the team," Maccelli said. "I think I can add more on the offensive side."
It’s also a big prove-it year for the 24-year-old. He put up 106 points across two seasons in Arizona, and last season in Toronto didn’t show nearly enough of that version of his game. Darche clearly sees the upside, saying Maccelli can help both the Islanders’ top six and their power play.
That’s the kind of summer move that can get overlooked in a hurry. Not flashy.
Not noisy. Just smart, timely, and maybe exactly what both sides needed.
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For the Islanders, the fit is complicated by a forward group that already looks crowded, which makes any real pursuit harder to see. The Kings have been the other club most credibly linked, though even that remains murky, and the longer Laine stays on the market, the more this starts to feel like a test of patience as much as roster need. What remains unresolved is whether a team will eventually step up with more than a low-risk look and give him the kind of opportunity his track record suggests he can still justify. [Read more 🡒]