It’s hardly a secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs are doing everything they can to upgrade this season. However, the club is short on cap space and has even fewer assets.
But that might not be a limitation for the Maple Leafs to land Edmonton Oilers forward Andrew Mangiapane. Mangiapane has been in the news lately amid trade rumors. The 29-year-old has purportedly asked for a trade given his diminishing role in Oiler Country.
That situation has led insider Chris Johnston of The Athletic to speculate that the Maple Leafs could be a destination for the Toronto native.
Here’s a look at what Johnston wrote in his January 2 piece:
“Toronto is low on draft capital and knows it’s going to have a tough time chasing upgrades at the trade deadline as a result. The acquisition cost in this case will likely be negligible. Plus, Mangiapane is only one year removed from a season with the Washington Capitals that included some encouraging stretches of play.”
It seems the Oilers would be willing to part with Mangiapane for a measly return. That could be right up the Maple Leafs’ alley. But there’s one other reason that Johnston points out as justification for this move:
“It’s also worth noting that the player has a favorable history with Leafs GM Brad Treliving dating back to their time together in Calgary.”
So, it could be that a reunion between Brad Treliving and Mangiapane could be the spark that the beleaguered forward needs to get rolling again.
Maple Leafs Roll Dice with Mangiapane Trade
No trade is devoid of risk in the NHL. As such, the Maple Leafs would be rolling the dice with Mangiapane. Even if the acquisition cost is negligible, the Leafs would, nonetheless, be banking on his down year being an outlier.
That rationale points toward Mangiapane just not being a good fit in Edmonton. Perhaps the playing style, the system, or the culture is just not suitable for him. So, the Maple Leafs could be hoping that their style and culture would be more conducive to Mangiapane’s success.
That’s purely speculation at this point. If anything, this move would be eerily similar to the Matias Maccelli trade. The Maple Leafs brought in Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth, hoping to reignite his career.
While Maccelli has improved of late, the trade has been largely a dude. That’s the risk the Leafs face with Mangiapane.
Acquisition Cost Would Be Relatively Low
As for the acquisition cost, one would have to imagine it’s quite low. The Maple Leafs could land Mangiapane for a similar cost as they did Maccelli. Maccelli cost the Leafs a third-round pick. The Oilers, as long as Toronto takes on Mangiapane’s full cap hit, could surrender the forward for an even higher pick.
But therein lies the issue. Mangiapane comes with a $3.6 million cap hit. The Leafs would need to clear out some room to fit in the remainder of Mangiapane’s cap hit this season. As such, separate deals could be forthcoming.
Nevertheless, there is room to speculate here. According to coach Craig Berube, Dakota Joshua will be out for some time. If Joshua lands on LTIR, Mangiapane’s contract is suddenly doable for Toronto. That’s something to keep in mind.
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