Matias Maccelli, Max Domi draw inspiration from Patrick Kane in pursuit of top line job

The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping that Matias Maccelli, acquired from the Utah Mammoth this summer, will be able to partially fill the void left by Mitch Marner on the top line.

Maccelli struggled last season to the tune of 18 points in 55 games, but he was one of the most under-the-radar playmakers in the NHL in 2023-24 and 2022-23, notching 57 points in 82 games and 49 points in 64 games, respectively. His bread and butter is playmaking, picking up 40 assists in 2023-24 and 38 the year before, so to say there’s some opportunity budding for Maccelli in Toronto would be an understatement.

When asked about how he became such a strong playmaker following morning skate on Saturday, Maccelli said that a lot of it stems from playing on empty rinks without a goalie, leaving him with no option but to pass the puck around.

“It’s just always been like that, just looking for a pass,” Maccelli told reporters. “I don’t know, maybe just comes from playing as a child, going to outdoor rinks to play and there’s no goaltenders there, so just passing the puck around.”

Maccelli was then asked who his favourite player to watch as a kid was.

“Patrick Kane would probably be one of them.”

Right there with Maccelli in the pursuit for a job riding shotgun Auston Matthews is Max Domi, who already has experience in the role. Like Maccelli, one of his favourite players growing up was Kane, and he was lucky enough to spend a few seasons with him.

“Kaner [Patrick Kane] for sure, he gets mad at me for saying that because I played with him,” Domi joked. “He became one of my good buddies and we were linemates for a full season, which was the highlight of my career, absolutely.”

Domi then broke down what makes Kane so impressive to play with.

“The way he sees the play, and the whole ice really, he can kind of direct his linemates where to go, but he just doesn’t miss. It’s pretty amazing.”

It’s no secret that Kane inspired a whole generation of playmakers. The Leafs probably won’t be getting prime Kane next to Matthews, but whether it’s Domi or Maccelli, they’ll be drawing inspiration from their favourite player growing up to help get Matthews the puck and bring his goal total up from the year before.