Islanders add Finnish forward Matias Maccelli on a one-year deal, betting on a breakout to reshape the top six

The New York Islanders moved to add more offensive skill by signing forward Matias Maccelli to a one-year contract worth $2.25 million, the team’s latest roster bet as it looks for stability and scoring depth. Maccelli’s arrival matters because the Islanders have been searching for consistent production beyond their core, and his profile is built around creating offense in multiple roles, including power-play opportunities.

Maccelli comes to Long Island after a season in which he totaled 39 points, including 14 goals and 25 assists. That output followed a smaller scoring line in his only season in Utah, when he had 18 points. His production jump is part of why people have pointed to him as a potential surprise performer within the 2019 draft class, even though he was not selected in the early rounds.

The draft context is also central to the story. Maccelli was chosen by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round, 98th overall, in 2019. Despite that lower draft position, he has been trending upward in points, a fact that can raise expectations internally because it suggests his development did not follow the typical “late-round ceiling” narrative.

Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche framed the signing as both a present-day contributor and a longer-term fit. In comments reported around the signing, Darche described Maccelli as a skilled player who is only 25 and said the team believes he can help immediately on the top lines and on the power play. Darche also noted the contract structure matters, because Maccelli is expected to become a restricted free agent after this season, making this year a key audition for both fit and cost.

There is also a free-agency backstory to the timing. According to reporting connected to the signing, Maccelli became an unrestricted free agent after the Toronto Maple Leafs did not extend him a qualifying offer following the 2025-26 season. That matters for New York because it helps explain why the Islanders were able to secure a player with a clear scoring track record at a price that fits the risk they are willing to take.

Looking ahead, what to watch is whether Maccelli’s offense translates in New York’s system, particularly in situations that pressure decision-making and timing, like the power play. This is the type of signing where the organization will be weighing near-term production against long-term controllability as the restricted free-agent decision approaches, and where fit with linemates will likely determine how quickly he becomes a mainstay rather than a rotating option.

Because this report is based on transaction coverage and secondary reporting rather than a standalone team press release in the material reviewed here, readers should treat any deeper roster projections and “ranking” interpretations as directional. The confirmed core facts are the contract terms, the basic production numbers cited, and the restricted free-agent context for what comes next.