Bruins Trade Rumors: Boston considering trade for Maple Leafs' winger

The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs may be two of the biggest rivals in the NHL, but that doesn't mean they don't ever do business together. Last season ahead of the deadline the two teams pulled off a blockbuster deal involving Brandon Carlo, Fraser Minten and two draft picks, and this season, their next deal could involve Leafs' winger Matias Maccelli.

The Maple Leafs have Maccelli on the trade market, even though he's back in their lineup and producing on the team's second line. Maccelli was a healthy scratch for a few weeks as his style of play isn't meshing well with Craig Berube, meanwhile the Bruins, who tried to trade for Maccelli before the Leafs acquired him, could still be interested.

The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa sees Maccelli as the perfect trade target for the Bruins:

The left-shot winger would give the Bruins some offensive help in their top nine. He is also 25 years old, which fits the Bruins’ cycle in terms of building for the future while going for a playoff spot. — Fluto Shinzawa

Maccelli's owed $3.4 million AAV this season, and does not hold any trade protection. In 26 games this season in blue and white, the shifty winger has scored five goals and added eight assists, for 13 points. He's starting to play a ton more with the Leafs of late, averaging roughly 16 minutes per game, up from around 12 minutes per game earlier in the season.

The Bruins sit just two points up on the Maple Leafs, who are heating up, so for now, with the way the teams are in the standings, don't expect to see this trade happening anytime soon. If the Leafs struggle early on in the new year, and the Bruins propel up into a playoff spot, look for these two teams to re-engage in trade conversations.

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