Coyotes rookie Matias Maccelli to miss six weeks with lower-body injury

The 5-foot-11 left wing suffered the injury in Arizona’s 2-1 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings on December 23, playing less than three minutes in the first period before leaving the game.

The Coyotes originally selected Maccelli in the fourth round (No. 98 overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft. The Turku, Finland product made his NHL debut with the Coyotes in 2021-22 after a spectacular AHL rookie season with the Tucson Roadrunners.

Maccelli might have been one of the top contenders for the Calder Trophy before suffering this injury, which will likely deal a significant blow to his chances. With both Maccelli and Liam O’Brien now injured, the Coyotes have just 10 healthy forwards on their NHL roster and should soon make some calls to Tucson.

Through his first 53 NHL games with the Coyotes, Maccelli has four goals and 28 points. Assuming he remains on his current recovery timeline, Maccelli could feasibly return to the Coyotes’ lineup sometime around the NHL All-Star Game in early February.

The Coyotes will return to action on Dec. 27 when they host the Colorado Avalanche at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona.