The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to add more offensive talent, and they could look to sign one former 35-goal scorer.
The Maple Leafs are likely to lose Mitch Marner in free agency and will look to replace him by committee. NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period expects the Maple Leafs to pursue Andrew Mangiapane in free agency.
“I expect teams like the Maple Leafs and Kraken – and there will be others – to pursue Andrew Mangiapane once he hits the open market,” Pagnotta wrote.
Mangiapane completed his three-year, $17.4 million deal with the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old can play center or wing and be a middle-six player for the Maple Leafs.
Last season with the Capitals, he recorded 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points in 81 games, while adding 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 10 playoff games. His career-high came in 2021-22 when he scored 35 goals and added 20 assists for 55 points in 82 games.
In his NHL career, Mangiapane has skated in 498 games, recording 123 goals and 120 assists for 243 points, and would likely be a third-line option for Toronto.
What is Mangiapane Expected to Get in Free Agency?
Mangiapane has been a solid NHL player throughout his career and is expected to have several teams interested in him.
With multiple teams interested in the forward, he will likely get a good contract. NHL insider Frank Servalli of DailyFaceoff ranked Mangiapane as his 33rd-best free agent available.
The outlet, using AFP Analytics, projects Mangiapane to sign a two-year deal worth $3.9 million per season.
After just one season with the Capitals, all signs point to Mangiapane hitting the open market, according to Pagnotta.
“As the Capitals navigate their off-season plan, it looks like Andrew Mangiapane will be hitting July 1 as a UFA,” Pagnotta wrote on X. “Also, of note, Mangiapane has switched agents and is now represented by Allain Roy at RSG Hockey.”
Mangiapane was drafted 166th overall in 2015 by the Calgary Flames.
Maple Leafs GM Admits There Will be Changes
Toronto was eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Florida Panthers.
After the early playoff exit, Maple Leafs’ general manager Brad Treliving made it clear there were going to be major changes. Treliving felt like the team needed to change tis core to help get over the hump.
“We have to find a way to push through at the most critical moments. And that’s the challenge in front of us. Moving forward, we have a good team. We’ve changed, we’ve changed a lot in the last 12 months,” Treliving said.
“There will be change moving forward, that’s just the nature of the business,” Treliving added. “We have to continue to change and evolve our mindset and create the team, both between the ears, personnel, to be our very best at the most critical moments. There’s some DNA that has to change on our team. If you keep getting to the same result, and that’s not to dismiss a lot of the good that (led) up to it, if you keep getting the same result, there’s some DNA that needs to change. That’s on me going forward, and our staff.”
The Maple Leafs enter the offseason with just over $25.7 million in cap space.
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