Matias Maccelli hasn鈥檛 played much right wing in his NHL career.
But the 24-year-old from Turku, Finland聽didn鈥檛 really get the chance in his days with Phoenix/Utah because that was Lawson Crouse鈥檚 job on their line with centre Nick Bjugstad.
Now with the Maple Leafs聽thanks to a summertime trade, Maccelli might get the coveted spot on the right side with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, now that Mitch Marner is in Vegas.聽
鈥淚 had a short conversation with the coach (Craig Berube) and I鈥檒l just do my best in practice to try to show them what I can do,鈥 said Maccelli.聽聽
With training camp opening Wednesday and the first on-ice workouts Thursday, it won鈥檛 take long to figure out what Berube and the rest of the coaching staff plan to do with new forwards such as Maccelli, Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua and Michael Pezzetta, all of whom were on hand for Monday’s annual charity golf tournament at Rattlesnake Point.
Pretty much the entire team has been participating in so-called captain鈥檚 skates for the last few weeks at the Ford Performance Centre.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be exciting,鈥 said Maccelli. 鈥淓verything is new. I鈥檝e been working hard this summer, so I鈥檓 ready to go.鈥
All four newcomers got the chance to talk about what role they see for themselves.
鈥淚 can help the team win in different ways, like penalty killing, power play,鈥 said Roy, acquired from Vegas in the sign-and-trade for Marner.聽 The six-foot-four centre from Amos, Que. scored 15 goals last year.
Joshua, six-foot-three, is coming off a seven-goal season limited by treatment for testicular cancer.
鈥淚t was a rough year last year for me, so I know the things I need to do to put that in the past and make this a good one,鈥 said Joshua, acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks. 鈥淚 like to really bring it all. I can bring physicality. I think I have a good scoring touch and can be a good team guy that can play anywhere in the lineup.鈥
Fighting for a job on the fourth line will be an actual fighter: Pezzetta, a former Montreal Canadien who signed as a free agent.
鈥淭he reason they brought me in here, the reason that they signed me and the reason I’ve been successful so far is just playing hard, being someone that’s hard to play against, responsible,鈥 said Pezzetta.
With Roy and Joshua, the Leafs will be bigger than last season. Pezzetta adds edge, while Joshua and Roy also have a bit of a chip on their shoulder after down seasons.
鈥淚t would be nice to play in playoffs for the first time ... To win is the most important thing,鈥 said Maccelli, who has played 224 games over four NHL seasons. 鈥淎nd then for myself, I want to have a better season than I鈥檝e ever had.鈥
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation