The Toronto Maple Leafs have decided to part ways with forward Matias Maccelli, declining to extend a qualifying offer to the restricted free agent before the 5 p.m. deadline on Monday. As a result, the 25-year-old winger will become an unrestricted free agent when the market opens on Wednesday.
Qualifying Offers Extended to Five Players
The Leafs did extend qualifying offers to five players: forwards Nick Robertson ($1.825 million), Jacob Quillan ($850,000), and Ryan Tverberg ($850,000), along with defencemen Emil Andrae ($874,125) and William Villeneuve ($850,000). These players remain restricted free agents and will have the opportunity to negotiate new contracts with the team.
Why Maccelli Was Let Go
Maccelli’s qualifying offer would have been $4.11 million US, a price the Leafs deemed too high given his inconsistent performance during the 2025-26 season. In 71 games, he recorded 14 goals and 25 assists but failed to make a significant positive impact for Toronto. The decision was made despite the fact that Leafs general manager John Chayka was previously in charge of the Arizona Coyotes when they drafted Maccelli in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
The Leafs had acquired Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth last summer in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in 2027. The conditions stipulated that if the Leafs made the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs and Maccelli recorded 51 points in the regular season, the pick would have upgraded to a second-round pick in 2029. Neither condition was met.
Other Players Not Qualified
Along with Maccelli, the Leafs did not extend qualifying offers to goaltender Vyacheslav Peksa, defencemen Henry Thrun, John Prokop, and Topi Niemela, as well as forwards Braeden Kressler, Roni Hirvonen, and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev. These players will also become unrestricted free agents.
Looking Ahead for Qualified Players
Among those qualified, Nick Robertson is coming off a career-best season with 16 goals, 16 assists, and 32 points. He will look to build on that performance in the upcoming season. Emil Andrae, acquired from Philadelphia, has been praised by Chayka for his potential. Meanwhile, Ryan Tverberg, Jacob Quillan, and William Villeneuve aim to translate their strong playoff performances with the Calder Cup-winning Toronto Marlies into roster spots with the Leafs during training camp.
