Oilers Linked To Maple Leafs' Winger

With the Toronto Maple Leafs' fifth loss in a row and seventh of their last eight games, they have fallen out of the playoff race unless they have a very strong finish. With how the Eastern Conference playoff race is, they are going to need at least 95 points to get in at this point. The team is eight points back with surging teams like the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens all firmly ahead of them.

This is seen as a transition year for the Maple Leafs after losing Mitch Marner and having to adjust to challenges and injuries this season. It hasn't gone as planned and they are four games above .500 with nine overtime or shootout losses. They are quickly becoming sellers as the trade deadline approaches.

In the other conference, the Edmonton Oilers have been playing well, scoring a ton of goals, and are second in their division once again. They are looking to make some additions, but the right ones, before the trade deadline to go on a third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in three years, this time to get the job done.

Why these two teams are linked is Bob Stauffer hinted at the Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann being a fit for the Oilers on Oilers Now. Insider Elliotte Friedman agreed with him. There were rumors that the Maple Leafs were looking to extend McMann, which would make sense, but they could also get a solid asset or two for the top-6 winger, who is a UFA after this season.

McMann has a very appealing cap hit for the remainder of the season and it's something the Oilers could work in. At the same time, Toronto might be interested in Andrew Mangiapane as he's set for a fresh start ahead of the trade deadline as well. Mangiapane needs a role higher than what the Oilers have been giving him most of the season. If McMann is gone and Marner is already gone, there is plenty of room in the top-6 in Toronto for Mangiapane to get back to his old form.

McMann has a cap hit of $1.35 million AAV and has 17 goals and 29 points in 52 games. I could see him going for a second-round pick+, but like Kiefer Sherwood, McMann likely won't fetch a first-round pick at the deadline without a contract extension.

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