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According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the Maple Leafs engaged with Edmonton regarding Andrew Mangiapane which brings a lot more questions than answers for Toronto especially knowing the return for Bobby McMann was less than stellar.
Edmonton was perfectly fine sending a first-rounder for a defensive centre in Jason Dickinson, so why McMann — a 20-goal scorer with electric speed; got less is anyone’s guess.
Toronto would have taken Mangiapane for McMann but decided against it: Chris Johnston
Besides the clear ignorance regarding salary retention (which would have put McMann as the most valuable and cheap asset available), it seems like the team missed an opportunity to add at least an NHL-ready body and one they’ve looked at before.
According to Chris Johnston on TSN’s Early Trading, the Maple Leafs did in fact engage the Oilers in trade talks regarding Andrew Mangiapane; who was included in the Dickinson deal and seemingly didn’t want to bring him aboard in the end — even though they should have:
In fact, they did talk to Edmonton, I’m told, before that deal went down with Dickinson, and they were willing to take back Mangiapane as an example. So, the Leafs feel they have flexibility from that standpoint to get some of these moves moving.
Johnston just said they were willing to take him as a piece. What, because you’re shy about retaining on a maximum of (no joke) $675,000?
That’s genuinely poor decision making with no excuses about a what the market dictated or what have you; the proof is in the pudding. Edmonton was willing to pay and Toronto decided it wasn’t good enough.
Brad Treliving was offered Mangiapane for Matias Maccelli earlier in the year and said no, fine. Why he wouldn’t take on Mangiapane as part of a package for a first (even with no retention) makes no sense. Where’s that ‘flexibility’ then?
Toronto’s negligence at deadline costs them a chance to add first-round pick
Chicago retained $2.125-million on Dickinson — that’s less than McMann makes as a whole, so I am more than sure Edmonton would have taken a cheap scorer for a first.
He has one year left at $3.6-million. Sure it’s a bit of a price to pay, but this isn’t a playoff team. Let Mangiapane earn his value, and maybe you maximize it at next year’s deadline where he might fetch you a pick or potentially two.
But no, instead Toronto walks away with less than they could (and should) have, while frustrating fans and giving no real indication they care about the future of the team. If so, they would have utilized all the tools available at their disposal to get as much back as they could.
Chalk it up to another Brad Treliving blunder, and one that might end up being the final straw that breaks the Maple Leafs’ backs.
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Maple Leafs discussed Andrew Mangiapane in trade talks with Edmonton
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