Matias Maccelli hasn't forgotten how to produce points in the NHL.
The Finnish winger wants to prove it with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Acquired by the Leafs in a trade with the Utah Mammoth last month, Maccelli, 24, met with Toronto media for the first time on Monday.
"It comes down to ice time and opportunity kind of with the points," he said. "It wasn't obviously the best year for myself (last season). But I still know I'm a better player than I was ... I've got it still in me. Now, I've just got to show people that again."
Maccelli was well down statistically last season, notching eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 55 games with an average ice time of 13:44 in Utah.
His best NHL season came the previous year in Arizona when Maccelli had 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points in 82 games with 16:14 TOI. In his first full season in the NHL in 2022-23, Maccelli recorded 11 goals and 38 assists for 49 points in 64 games with 15:41 TOI in Arizona.
"I've been working a lot this summer on my game, more than maybe the previous years," Maccelli said. " Just have to be comfortable again with the puck and make plays and all that kind of stuff. I've been definitely putting the work in this summer and am ready to go."
With Mitch Marner having departed, the Leafs need to adjust their top-six forward group.
Does Maccelli think he can play with Auston Matthews?
"I would definitely love that. Playing with a guy like that would be great," he said. "I'll make sure I'll be in shape if I get a chance to play with Auston or any of the top guys in Toronto."
