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Matias Maccelli

Utah Hockey Club Notes: Cooley, But, Simashev, Maccelli, Ingram

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After managing a 38-31-13 record in their first season in franchise history, the Utah Hockey Club will be an exciting team to follow this upcoming offseason. They have abundant financial flexibility, and some of those dollars will undoubtedly go to a player they’ll look to build around for the long haul.

Brogan Houston of Deseret News shared a note from Utah General Manager Bill Armstrong earlier, indicating the team will look to begin extension negotiations with center Logan Cooley this summer. Cooley becomes eligible for an extension on July 1st, as he enters the last season of his three-year entry-level contract signed in 2023.

There’s no questioning the desire for an extension from Utah’s perspective. Cooley has been flat-out electric since jumping from collegiate to professional, scoring 45 goals and 109 points through his first 157 contests, with a 19-point improvement year-on-year. All four of Utah’s top-scoring forwards are signed to contracts at or below $7.15MM per year, so they may be ready to make Cooley their highest-paid player as well.

Other updates out of Utah:

  • Just over two weeks ago, Armstrong suggested that Utah’s two 2023 first-round selections, Daniil But and Dmitri Simashev, might debut for the team next season. In a follow-up, Cole Bagley of KSL Sports received confirmation from Armstrong today that the team would begin contract negotiations with the pair once their KHL season had concluded. Those negotiations could start relatively soon, given that their current team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, will play Avangard Omsk in Game 7 of Round Two of the Gagarin Cup playoffs on Wednesday.
  • After notching 78 assists in his last 146 games, much was expected from Matias Maccelli this season. Unfortunately, the 2024-25 season became one to forget, as Maccelli finished with eight goals and 18 points in 55 contests, becoming a frequent healthy scratch. The diminished production sparked trade rumors regarding Maccelli around the deadline, and that doesn’t appear likely to fade this offseason. Concerning Maccelli’s future with the organization, Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune quoted Armstrong saying, “We’ve got some evaluation to do. Your team becomes better every year. There are certain things that happen — sometimes your players have to keep up, sometimes roles change.“
  • Fraser also received a quote from Armstrong about netminder Connor Ingram’s status, who entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on March 9th. Armstrong said, “A lot of it is unknown. When players go into the program, we don’t have any contact with him so it’s hard for us to speculate. The good news for us as we sit here in this room is we know he is in a good place at the program. We wish him the best.” Ingram’s starting status for Utah’s 2025-26 season is uncertain, but he is signed through next season with a cap hit of $1.95MM.

Latest On Utah’s Trade Deadline Plans

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The Trade Deadline is less than a week away and the bubble surrounding it appears ready to burst. There’s plenty of trade buzz circulating in the league, headlined by the Utah Hockey Club’s continued efforts to try to figure out their deadline approach. The Hockey Club was split between buyer and seller status during the 4-Nations Face-Off break, but general manager Bill Armstrong has now shared that the team won’t sell if they stay in playoff contention per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. Utah has been on a heater since returning from break, posting a 3-1-0 record and outscoring opponents 13-to-eight. They’re also outshooting opponents 128-to-80, or an average of 32-to-20 per game.

Utah’s surge forward seemed inevitable. They’ve faced injuries to many of their key contributors and notable summer additions this season. That includes burly defender Sean Durzi, who missed four months with a shoulder injury sustained in Utah’s fourth game of the season. Durzi averaged a team-high 25:34 in ice time and recorded two assists through the year’s first three games. That includes a 29-minute performance in his last full game before getting injured. He’s scored two points in four games since returning on February 22nd – though he’s not yet back to his October ice time. In getting Durzi back, Utah effectively added a free top-four defender to a lineup that was already in contention for the Western Conference’s second wild card.

Utah has inched closer to that wild card with their recent hot streak. But Armstrong claiming the team won’t be sellers at the deadline doesn’t mean they’ll be free of action. The divide between winger Matias Maccelli and a routine lineup spot is growing wider over Utah’s last few games. He hasn’t played since February 8th, as pointed out by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman in the latest 32 Thoughts. Friedman adds that the undersized Maccelli could find his spark with a trade away from the team – a claim that’d certainly have teams around the league excited.

Maccelli has just 18 points in 52 games this season, but he broke out as a strong, young playmaker over the last two years. Maccelli recorded 38 assists and 49 points in 64 games of the 2022-23 season – his first full year in the NHL – and followed it up with 40 assists and 57 points in 82 games last year. He’s still just 24 years old, and would likely be an exciting upside buy should a team convince Armstrong that he’s expendable.

While they might not look thrilling on paper, Utah has found a lineup that works this month. They are glaringly shallow at center, where Barrett Hayton and Jack McBain fill the middle-six roles – but it’s hard to point out a weakness anywhere else. Utah’s wingers have performed up to par and the return of Durzi brings some much-needed weight behind Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino on defense. With a gust of wind behind their sails, any of Utah’s moves would likely focus solely on beefing up their bottom three forward lines. They’ll have the money to pursue whoever they’d like on the open market – with a projected $28.52MM in deadline cap space, per PuckPedia.

That much cap space is bound to weigh down a wallet, and Armstrong’s indication that the team won’t sell assets could be a subtle indication that they’re looking to lean heavily into the post-break success.

Utah’s Matias Maccelli May Become Available At Deadline

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In today’s rendition of 32 Thoughts with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (and later shared by Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune), the longtime insider mentioned a forward that hadn’t previously been believed to be a part of any trade discussions. The player in question is Utah Hockey Club’s Matias Maccelli, who’s in his fourth professional season.

During the podcast, Friedman was quoted saying, “Maccelli in Utah. He’s been scratched a bit lately. Was scratched Sunday night too against Vancouver. That’s one to watch.” His play this season has invoked questions regarding his future with the organization but Utah would ultimately be selling low on Maccelli should they move him now.

There’s no question he’s had a disappointing campaign. After scoring 28 goals and 78 assists in 146 games with the Arizona Coyotes from 2022 to 2024, Maccelli’s scoring has dropped to eight goals and 10 assists in 52 games this season. That point production equates to a 0.37 decrease in points per game compared to years past and his offensive production isn’t the only worry in his game.

His average time on ice has dropped by slightly more than two minutes this season and his sub-10% shooting percentage is the lowest since his rookie campaign. His on-ice save percentage at even strength has fallen from a career-high 91.5% in 2022-23 to 88.9% this year. One of the only categories of Maccelli’s game not to see a number go down is his giveaways which have risen by 14.4% per game.

Those numbers don’t paint a pretty picture. Still, given he’s only one year removed from tallying 40 assists over a full season, several teams would likely be interested in his services as a potential bounce-back option.

If Utah is considering seriously trading Maccelli, they would be better served by waiting until next year’s deadline. He’s signed to a modest $3.425MM salary through next season and the team isn’t positioned to start clearing salary from the roster. Should Maccelli’s playmaking abilities again come alive during the 2025-26 season, Utah could move him then for a bigger haul before he becomes a restricted free agent for the second time in his career.

Snapshots: Landeskog, Francis, Hurricanes, Maccelli

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Avalanche winger Gabriel Landeskog skated before practice today, notes Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now.  The captain hasn’t played since the sixth game of the Stanley Cup Final back in 2022 due to continued knee trouble including a cartilage transplant in May 2023.  While this isn’t the first time Landeskog has taken to the ice before practice, it’s the first time he has done so since mid-November as he suffered a setback at that time.  There remains no timetable for him to return but Landeskog has noted a few times this year that he hopes to get back into the Colorado lineup at some point this season.

Elsewhere around the hockey world:

  • The University of Minnesota-Duluth announced (Twitter link) that Ducks prospect Will Francis had a relapse of his leukemia which is why he has been limited to just three games so far this season. Francis was initially diagnosed with it in 2020 and had a relapse in August 2023, leading to a bone marrow transplant back in April.  Francis is hoping to return to the team next month.  PHR wishes Francis well in his continued battle.
  • The Hurricanes announced that defenseman Riley Stillman has been sent back to AHL Chicago. The 26-year-old has been sent back and forth this season but hasn’t seen any action with Carolina.  Stillman has four points in nine contests with the Wolves.  Meanwhile, Carolina has also recalled goalie Dustin Tokarski, defenseman Ty Smith, and winger Jackson Blake from Chicago, per the AHL transactions log.  The three were papered to the minors on Wednesday.
  • Utah announced (Twitter link) that winger Matias Maccelli was scratched from tonight’s game against Calgary due to an illness. After putting up 57 points last season, the 24-year-old has struggled mightily offensively this year, potting just three goals and seven assists through his first 37 outings.  There was some good news on the health front, however, as Clayton Keller returned after missing Tuesday’s game to an illness himself.

Arizona Coyotes Expected To Extend Matias Maccelli

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Jul 16: PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan has obtained the terms of the deal, confirming Maccelli is signing for three years at a cap hit of $3.425MM. The contract breakdown is as follows, and will make him an RFA due a $4.11MM qualifying offer at the end:

2023-24: $3MM salary
2024-25: $3.025MM salary
2025-26: $4.25MM salary

Jul 15: The Arizona Coyotes have gotten a fair bit of work done over the last 24 hours, and now Kevin Weekes of ESPN reports they are not quite done. Weekes reports that the team is close to signing restricted free agent forward Matias Maccelli to a three-year contract extension. Maccelli experienced a breakout season last year, scoring 49 points in 64 games, finishing fourth in Calder Memorial Trophy voting.

Drafted 98th overall by the Coyotes back in the 2019 NHL Draft, he has surely exceeded expectations for the rebuilding club. In his draft year, Maccelli played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, and Maccelli had 31 goals and 41 assists in 62 games for the team. Arizona felt that Maccelli still needed some more development, and allowed him to travel back to his home country of Finland to play in the Liiga.

Upon joining Ilves of the Finish Liiga, Maccelli impressed even further and saw his name moving up on the Coyotes’ prospects list. In his two years spent overseas, Maccelli scored 28 goals and 41 assists in 94 games playing in the country’s top professional hockey league. Arizona was so impressed by what they saw in Maccelli’s time in Finland, they signed him to a three-year, $2.78MM entry-level contract.

Maccelli did play a few games with the Coyotes during the 2021-22 season but primarily featured on their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. Not only did Maccelli play well in his first season for the Roadrunners, he led the team in points, scoring 14 goals and 43 assists in 47 games.

Making the Coyotes out of training camp this past season, Maccelli became one of the top players on the team. Playing on a line with star player Clayton Keller, Maccelli put up 11 goals and 38 assists in 64 games. Maccelli likely would have added to that total, but a lower-body injury kept him out for six weeks during December and January. As Arizona continues to build its team from the ground up, finding diamonds in the rough similar to Maccelli is going to be important for the team.

Arizona Coyotes Recall Michael Carcone

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The Arizona Coyotes, fresh off their first win in ten games on Tuesday, have recalled Michael Carcone from the AHL. The minor league veteran was sent down earlier this month when Dylan Guenther returned and now will join them ahead of tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals. Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports reports that a player is dealing with a minor injury, leading to the recall.

Carcone, 26, continues to dominate AHL competition, with 20 goals and 51 points in just 32 games. That’s good enough for the league lead, despite playing fewer games than most of his competition. Carcone has suited up six times for the Coyotes this year, scoring two goals in the process. The undrafted, undersized forward has always been an offensive threat, just can’t seem to keep hold of an NHL opportunity for long. In his career, he has eight points in 27 games.

The bigger news of the day for Arizona was the presence of Matias Maccelli at practice this morning. He is now listed as day-to-day and might play next week, according to Morgan. Maccelli hasn’t played since December, and will likely bump Carcone back to the minor leagues once he’s healthy enough to return. The 22-year-old has just three goals on the year but has recorded 22 points in 30 games.

January Calder Trophy Watch: Forwards

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The middle of the season is a common time for awards check-ins in the NHL, and for good reason. Enough sample size is under our belts to cross off some early-season hot and cold streaks, and it’s given some time for players to grow into impact roles for new teams.

That’s especially true with the Calder Trophy, tracking the best rookie in the league. Young players are especially susceptible to streakiness, for better or for worse. Many players’ seasons have evened out somewhat, and it’s as good a time as any to take a look at where things stand for a handful of top Calder Trophy candidates, this time at the forward position.

Forwards

Matthew Beniers, Seattle Kraken

Beniers stands as the clear front-runner for the Calder in most circles, and for good reason. He leads all rookies in goals (17) and points (36), and is playing serious minutes at 17:05 per game. He’s one point behind Andre Burakovsky for the Kraken lead in scoring, and he’s been a crucial part of Seattle’s improvement from basement dweller to playoff contender in 2022-23.

The 2021 second-overall pick was a “safe floor, unsure ceiling” type of player when he was drafted. With this kind of production so early in his career, Seattle can be optimistic that Beniers will hit his first-line center ceiling as his defense improves. He’s a poor 43.7% in the faceoff dot, but that’s been a problem for the entire Kraken squad, as they don’t have a single player over 50%.

Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg Jets

Along with the rest of the Jets, Perfetti is thriving offensively under head coach Rick Bowness. He had a solid seven points in 18 NHL games last season, maintaining his rookie status, but this season leads rookies with 20 assists.

While he has thrived playing with some of Winnipeg’s top talent, Perfetti’s point production is impressive in its own right. Very little of his scoring has come on the power play, he has just four points there. He’s sixth on the Jets in scoring, and while he isn’t receiving top minutes quite yet, nearly 15 minutes a night is still fine for a player his age. Look for his goal-scoring to improve throughout the season, too; he’s shooting at just 8.2%.

Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks

After a 2022 World Juniors for the ages, McTavish has transitioned well to the NHL on a struggling team. Anaheim’s systems have been a mess all season, but McTavish has still managed 27 points in 45 games and is drawing some tough matchups in the top six.

Used on and off at the center position, McTavish is scoring without much support. He’s third on the team in points and his -14 rating is actually one of the better ones on the team. Selected immediately after Beniers in 2021, it’s looking like an incredibly strong top-five from that class.

On the cusp: Matias Maccelli and Dylan Guenther (ARI), Kent Johnson (CBJ), Jack Quinn and John-Jason Peterka (BUF), Wyatt Johnston (DAL), Juuso Parssinen (NSH), Noah Cates (PHI)

Matias Maccelli Expected To Miss Six Weeks

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As everyone was enjoying their holiday weekend, the Arizona Coyotes received a bit of bad news on one of their young forwards. According to PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan, rookie Matias Maccelli is expected to miss six weeks with a lower-body injury. Maccelli suffered the injury during Friday’s win over the Los Angeles Kings and was forced to leave the game prematurely. At this time, it’s unclear what exactly the nature of the injury is.

Amid another season of uncertainty with an odd arena situation, near the bottom of the league standings, the Coyotes have been able to find a few bright spots and hope for the future. One of those bright spots has been Maccelli, who is currently second in the rookie scoring race with 22 points. An adept playmaker, Maccelli’s 22 points come from just three goals, but 19 assists over 30 games, a large split but not necessarily of concern, given his 13.0% shooting percentage.

A native of Finland, Maccelli was a fourth-round pick of the Coyotes in 2019 and rose relatively quickly to becoming the impact player he is today. After spending two years with Ilves Tampere back home, where he was much of the same player he is today, Maccelli came to North America for 2021-22. The winger dominated the AHL with 57 points in just 47 games and earned himself a March call-up and a long 23-game look in the NHL.

Already 29th in the league in goals-for, losing Maccelli won’t help the cause. There isn’t necessarily a race for the Coyotes to stay in, however the team does have a mix of young players who need to develop and build confidence as well as veteran trade assets whose performance rather directly impacts what they’ll fetch in a trade. Still, a silver lining could be an opportunity for another young player, perhaps their next Maccelli, to get a chance to show he can have a similar impact, which for the team can only help accelerate the rebuild process.

Minor Transactions: 10/12/22

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Another slate of opening night contests are on tap around the NHL this evening, including the NHL debut of 2022 number one overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky with the Montreal Canadiens and Johnny Gaudreau’s Columbus Blue Jackets debut down in Carolina. As exciting as the action is around the NHL tonight, there’s still plenty going on around the hockey world and we’ll keep track of it here.

  • The Henderson Silver Knights, the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, made several cuts from its training camp roster today. Forwards Patrick Guay, Daniel D’Amato, Lynden McCallum, and defenseman Connor Corcoran have all been assigned to the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL (link). Guay could be an intriguing name in this group, coming off a season in which he scored 55 goals to go with 49 assists in just 68 games with the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders. The forward was a fifth-round selection by Vegas in 2022 as a 20-year-old.
  • Similarly, the Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, cut a handful of players from its roster. Forward Jordan Kawaguchi, defensemen Dawson Barteaux and Owen Headrick, and goaltender Remi Poirier were all assigned to the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. (link). Of note, Poirier, a sixth-round selection by Dallas in 2020, recently finished an impressive four-year stint with the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL.
  • The Arizona Coyotes are sending forward Matias Maccelli to the AHL (link). A fourth-round pick of the Coyotes in 2019, Maccelli made his NHL debut last season, recording six points in 23 games for Arizona. In the AHL, however, Maccelli was nothing short of an elite playmaker, scoring 14 goals to go with 43 assists in just 47 games. If the young winger can translate some of his AHL production into the NHL one day, the Coyotes will surely have themselves an exciting player.
  • Forward Emilio Pettersen has been activated off of season-opening IR by the Calgary Flames and subsequently sent down (link). The Norwegian forward was a sixth-round selection of Calgary in 2018 and spent the previous two seasons with the Stockton Heat, then Calgary’s AHL affiliate.
  • Like Pettersen, Florida Panthers forward Justin Sourdif has been activated from season-opening IR and sent down. (link). A third-round pick by Florida in 2020, Sourdif recently finished up an impressive junior career spent primarily with the Vancouver Giants, who dealt him to the Edmonton Oil Kings mid-way through last season. The 20-year-old forward had 71 points in 52 games last year in the WHL.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

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