The Toronto Maple Leafs have seemingly turned things around lately. Despite the frustrating 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night, the Leafs are within striking distance of a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.
That situation has been thanks in large part to the emergence of depth scoring. Newcomers to the Maple Leafs, like Dakota Joshua and Nic Roy, have found their footing with the team. But a newcomer who hasn’t really fit in is Matias Maccelli.
Maccelli joined the Maple Leafs following an offseason trade with the Utah Mammoth. The 25-year-old has four goals and nine points in 22 games. He’s been a healthy scratch at times. His ice time has hovered around 12 minutes a night, playing predominantly in a bottom-six role.
On the flipside, the New York Islanders have had one heck of a resurgent season. The Islanders find themselves in third place in the Metro Division, one point off the division lead. The club has found new life this season, spurred by the arrival of first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer.
But one player who’s gotten lost in the shuffle is Maxim Tsyplakov. After a great rookie season in which he scored 10 goals and 35 points in 77 games, Tsyplakov has just one goal in 20 games this season.
The deeper Islanders’ lineup has pushed Tsyplakov out of a regular lineup spot despite various injuries plaguing the team.
With that in mind, a 1-for-1 swap between the Islanders and Maple Leafs could offer both young players a fresh start.
Here’s a look at the deal:
Maple Leafs get:
Maxim Tsyplakov, F
Islanders get:
Matias Maccelli, F
The deal could be a low-risk move for both sides, as the clubs look to secure a playoff spot.
Maple Leafs Get Solid, Physical Winger in Tsyplakov
The Maple Leafs get a solid physical winger in the 6’3”, 190-pound Tsyplakov. He’s not shy of throwing the body around. He’s a strong netfront presence and has solid passing skills. The biggest downside to Tsyplakov is his speed and skating. He’s not going to keep up with guys like William Nylander and Auston Matthews.
But then again, Tsyaplakov wouldn’t play in the top six. He could be a decent addition on the fourth line. With some solid play, he could move up to the Maple Leafs’ third line, particularly with Nick Robertson getting a more meaningful role with Craig Berube.
Tsyplakov Comes at Lower Cost
Both Maccelli and Tsyplakov will be UFAs next summer. Tsyplakov comes with a $2.25 million cap hit, while Maccelli’s is $3.425 million. Let’s assume for the sake of practicality that the Maple Leafs retain $1.18 on Maccelli to even out the cap hits. The retention would be for the rest of this season only.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs can get Tsyplakov for a lower cost to do what Maccelli has been unable to do this season. If things work out, the Maple Leafs can re-sign Tsyplakov at a more amenable price point.
Otherwise, the Maple Leafs lose nothing by giving Maccelli and Tsyplakov an opportunity at a fresh start.
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