Matias Maccelli and other former Maple Leafs get new addresses in NHL free agency

After not extending the winger a qualifying offer, he joins the New York Islanders, looking for a better showing than last year.

Published Jul 01, 2026  •  1 minute read

Matias Maccelli of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the New York Islanders during a game earlier this year. Getty Images

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Matias Maccelli didn’t go unwanted for long. 

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The winger, who was projected to take some of Mitch Marner’s minutes last season and wound up spending time as a healthy scratch, signed with the New York Islanders on Wednesday.

He’ll get $2.25 million for one year after making $3.425 million as a Leaf. 

New Toronto general manager John Chayka had not extended a qualifying offer to the 25-year-old after he ended his only season in Toronto with 39 points in 71 games. He was a minus-23, though not the worst among forwards on what was a disappointing year all around for most of the top six group. 

It was hoped the combination of Max Domi, Maccelli and other moves on the right side would replace at least some of Marner’s 100 points, but Maccelli ended up moving around the lineup. The Finn had spent four years with the Arizona/Utah franchise before coming to Toronto.

For former Leafs who’ve been longer removed from Toronto, it was also a day of relocation. 

Scott Laughton, dealt at this year’s trade deadline to the Kings, is going to  re-sign there after Bobby McMann did likewise in Seattle a few days ago.

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Winger Mason Marchment, whom many hoped would bring his physical game back to Bay Street after fired GM Kyle Dubas dealt him for forward Denis Malgin a few years ago, signed for five years and $35 million in San Jose.

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Speedy forward Ilya Mikheyev, who departed in 2022 for Vancouver and then Chicago, has surfaced with Leafs’ division rival Tampa Bay for four years at $3.850 million per season.

Defenceman Luke Schenn, still in demand at the age of 36 after starting his career as a Leafs first rounder and coming back once, begins his second stint in Vancouver for one year at $2.25 million. 

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