The Edmonton Oilers are one of the teams linked to Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs and that’s a move that makes a lot of sense considering he’s a pending UFA and Toronto is sitting six points out of a playoff spot. But there appears to be another that the Oilers may have interest in as well.
David Pagnotta said, “The Leafs aren’t trading (Ekman-Larsson) for Mangiapane and a pick. So, sorry, that’s not going to happen. You’re probably looking at something like an Isaac Howard in a deal to get OEL out of Toronto.”
I don’t think there’s a number one on the Maple Leafs this season when it comes to defenders. Jake McCabe cleans up more of the defensive duties and logs the most icetime, but Ekman-Larsson and Morgan Rielly are in a similar position offensively and overall. I’d argue that Ekman-Larsson has been the most impactful this season though.
The Maple Leafs do need to change their defense around, but trading Ekman-Larsson might not be the right way to go. Sure, he’s 34 years old, but he has eight goals and 34 points on the season, plays nearly 21 minutes per night, and is very cheap for the impact he has at $3.5 million AAV for another two years after this one. Maybe a first-round pick and Andrew Mangiapane would do the trick, but that’s a maybe. That still might be too low considering the season OEL is having and the term left.
Howard has been given multiple shots in the NHL this season, and with the depth of the Oilers’ forwards, hasn’t been able to stick or make an offensive impact, especially when the team is healthy. The Oilers would surely like to have Howard in the NHL over players like Adam Henrique or Trent Frederic on the team, but also wants him to gain experience and confidence as a pro in the AHL like Matthew Savoie did so he can have the same progression and impact very soon too.
The Oilers haven’t been great at turning out prospects, but with a very good AHL system that seems to be working for many of them, that might change. At this time with Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Jake Walman, and Spencer Stastney as left side options on defense, I don’t think it’s the right move unless the Oilers can move on from Nurse, which is just a pipe dream for Oilers fans and management with that contract. A McMann trade might get done between the two, but an Ekman-Larsson trade is unlikely.
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