Trade Winds and Tough Calls: What’s Next for the Leafs and Mangiapane?
With the NHL trade deadline inching closer, the market is starting to take shape-and a few names are already buzzing. One of them?
Andrew Mangiapane. The Edmonton Oilers have reportedly been working the phones, trying to find a landing spot for the versatile winger.
And while most of the conversation tends to revolve around contenders, don’t sleep on some of the teams outside the playoff picture.
Teams like the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, and St. Louis Blues may not be in the postseason mix right now, but they could still be interested in Mangiapane’s services-and not just as a rental.
He’s got another year left on his deal at a $3.6 million cap hit, which makes him more than just a short-term fix. That extra year of control could be attractive for teams looking to retool rather than rebuild.
Mangiapane brings a mix of speed, tenacity, and two-way ability that can slot into a middle-six role on just about any roster. He’s not the flashiest name on the block, but he’s the kind of player who can quietly make a difference-especially for a team thinking about next season as much as this one.
Toronto’s Fork in the Road: How Far Should the Leafs Go?
Now let’s talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ten points out of a playoff spot and trending in the wrong direction, the Leafs are staring down a tough reality: it’s time to sell.
The big question isn’t if they should sell-it’s how far they’re willing to go.
Former NHL defenseman Frankie Corrado weighed in recently, and his take was blunt: outside of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies, everything should be on the table. That’s a bold stance, but it reflects just how dire things have gotten in Toronto. The idea isn’t to blow it all up for the sake of it-it’s about setting the table for a fast turnaround next season.
Corrado pointed to the Boston Bruins’ approach last year as a model. Boston made a series of calculated moves-some big, some under the radar-that helped reshape their roster and set the stage for this year’s success.
One of those moves, of course, involved Brandon Carlo heading to Toronto in a deal that saw Fraser Minten and a first-round pick go the other way. Minten’s emergence in Boston only underscores the importance of getting value back in these kinds of trades.
For the Leafs, that means moving pending UFAs is a must. Don’t wait for the offseason to talk extensions-get assets now. Even RFAs like Matias Maccelli should be considered movable if the return helps the long-term picture.
Then there’s the tougher part: players with term and trade protection. Think Max Domi.
Think Morgan Rielly. Those conversations aren’t easy, but if Toronto is serious about reshaping this roster, they have to happen.
The goal isn’t a five-year rebuild-it’s to be competitive again next fall. But that only works if the front office is willing to make some hard decisions now.
Bottom line: the Leafs aren’t salvaging this season. That ship has sailed. But what they do over the next few weeks could define what this team looks like in 2026 and beyond.