Petes traded Mancina to help him get more playing time in final year, but couldn’t get more in return for him
Peterborough Petes GM Mike Oke readily admits he’d like to have got more in return in trading Matt Mancina to the Mississauga Steelheads for a third-round draft pick.
Mancina told Oke in April he wanted to play more games in his overage season than he figured he would alongside Dylan Wells so he asked to be traded. Mancina wanted the team he went to to be a contender. The fact Mancina had a no trade clause in his contract gave him some say in the process.
“Matt definitely played a role in determining what he felt would be a good situation for him both on and off the ice,” Oke said. “Through this whole process we worked very closely with Matt and his agent to facilitate the move that was made.”
Mancina said he enjoyed his two years in Peterborough and made some great friends, but he wants to play a greater percentage of games.
“Wellsy is a great goalie. He got drafted this past year and he deserves to be a starter,” Mancina said. “Since it’s my last year I want to give myself the best chance and I think Mississauga was a great place to go.
“They are supposed to be a really good team and it being my last year I’d like to go as deep as I can in the playoffs.”
Oke said there was a mutual aspect to the deal in that the Petes wanted to give Wells, entering his third year and having been drafted to the NHL, more playing time. They also had four quality overage candidates and moving Mancina prior to training camp clarified the situation and minimized potential distractions.
“We feel we’re in a fortunate position where we have some depth in goaltending with three guys who have all played in the OHL and shown they are capable,” Oke said. “We also have a couple of prospects coming up who we feel are going to be able to step in and play in the OHL”
While Wells had a disappointing sophomore season the Petes believe with more consistent playing time he’ll fulfil the potential they saw in drafting him in the second round and the Edmonton Oilers saw in selecting him in June.
“We felt it was time to provide Dylan with the opportunity, along with our other goalies, to get more work,” Oke said.
He is also pleased with the calibre of overage players they have in forward Steve Lorentz and defencemen Kyle Jenkins and Brandon Prophet. Oke said they all bring strengths on and off the ice.
“All three are committed, good people who will be a real positive influence on the younger players,” Oke said. “Overage players play a key role on and off the ice. I’m really excited that all three are ready to be mentors and leaders.”
Examiner columnist Matt Campbell tweeted Monday he felt the Petes could have got more in return for Mancina.
“I would have liked to have had more return, he’s a quality goalie,” Oke said. “Matt had to be comfortable with the situation he was going to be moving into and based on his discussions with his family and his advisers he felt Mississauga was the best option.”