Maple Leafs turned down an Oilers trade after refusing to move Matias Maccelli
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
According to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, the Toronto Maple Leafs turned down an Andrew Mangiapane deal due to the fact the Oilers were asking for Matias Maccelli.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up for the remainder of the NHL season, the trade deadline is quickly approaching and the team has to decide whether or not they are going to keep assets like Bobby McMann or decide to sell and get whatever they can recoup in draft capital.
While no doubt the next few games will dictate what's going on, the Maple Leafs front office would rather not have to deal with a retool and potentially lose out on a playoff spot (and that sweet, sweet revenue).
Maple Leafs turned down Maccelli for Mangiapane swap
However, that doesn't mean they aren't going to be looking for deals, and they have been linked heavily to several names including Edmonton's Andrew Mangiapane and from the sounds of it; were nearly close to bringing him in.
According to Nick Kypreos in his latest trade board for Sportsnet, the Oilers offered Mangiapane to the Maple Leafs however the cost of sending Matias Maccelli the other way was something Toronto did not have much interest in:
The Oilers were prepared to send Mangiapane to Toronto for Matias Maccelli, but the feeling is the Leafs weren't too interested in it.
While he no doubt would add a great physical scoring presence to the bottoms, losing out on a player like Maccelli who has finally found his groove here and is still young enough to be part of the now and the future -- it isn't a great deal on paper.
Why trading Matias Maccelli for Andrew Mangiapane made no sense for Brad Treliving
Even taking stats into account, Maccelli is leagues better than Mangiapane and could legitimately fit into the top-six especially if Toronto moves on from McMann.
What you're looking for here is a physicality and defensive swap for someone who is less savvy in that department but offers much more creativity at a younger age.
Despite the Maple Leafs wanting to improve, there are other names they could target on the market like Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri. Sure the price is going to increase, but at least you're getting much more value from them as opposed to essentially depth in Mangiapane.
Right now, Toronto has to have their next week or so determine their deadline plans and with a chance to leapfrog teams in the Atlantic and set themselves up nicely, trading away a very key piece of that would make for a terrible choice at the end of the day.
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