Andrew Mangiapane trade talks are picking up, as the Edmonton Oilers offered him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Matias Maccelli, but the Leafs said no.
Nick Kypreos is a key name in this situation, and that is important as the trade deadline approaches.
According to reports, Edmonton was ready to trade Mangiapane to Toronto for Maccelli, but the Maple Leafs weren’t really interested.
On the surface, this trade seems like a swap between two forwards, but the “not interested” part tells the real story.
Mangiapane is 29 years old. He was chosen in the sixth round of the 2015 draft by the Calgary Flames, and he plays aggressively when he’s at his best.
This post sparked the discussion today.
So far this season, he has 6 goals and 6 assists for a total of 12 points in 49 games, which isn’t the level of performance that Edmonton expected for someone in a middle-six role.
Maccelli, on the other hand, is 25 years old. He was picked in the fourth round of the 2019 draft by the Arizona Coyotes, and he is more about skill and playmaking than physicality.
He has scored 10 goals and made 14 assists for 24 points in 46 games, and Toronto has tried using him in various roles to boost their offense.
Matias Maccelli and the Toronto Maple Leafs declined the trade.
Leafs fans are already feeling anxious because every “almost trade” leads to more debates about what the team really needs.
There is also a salary cap issue here since Maccelli has a cap hit of $3.425 million and will be a restricted free agent next summer.
If Toronto sees him as a key offensive player, trading him for a struggling scorer would be hard to justify, even if Mangiapane is a better shooter.
And if the Leafs weren’t seriously considering Mangiapane, that fits with the recent talk that he doesn’t seem like the kind of player they are targeting anyway.
According to Nick Kypreos, the Oilers were prepared to send Andrew Mangiapane to Toronto for Matias Maccelli, but the feeling is that the Leafs weren’t too interested in it.
— Oilers Access (@oilersaccess) February 25, 2026
For Edmonton, the idea is straightforward; they need a player who can make things happen along the boards and keep the action going when the fast plays slow down.
For Toronto, the “no” sounds like a belief that talent will remain strong and that Maccelli will step up his game when the matches become more intense.
Regardless, this rumor shows that both teams are still looking to solve the same issue, which is how well players fit in the top six, instead of just focusing on their reputation.
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