TORONTO — Details are flowing out rather quickly in the past few hours regarding the total breakdown in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.

Reports are stating that the Leafs were very close to shipping off Carlton the Bear to the Edmonton Oilers for Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner, and a 1st round pick. Sadly, as of 11:50 AM EST, the deal is off.

The Toronto Maple Leafs mascot, making funny poses for the reporters during the media scrum for lower profile Leafs organization members at the Mastercard Centre for Hockey Excellence, didn’t look like a man who wanted to be traded, said his nose interpretor Mikka Hennestrom.

“He says, he never believe in rental mascot to begin with”, Hennestrom began, watching Carlton’s nose patterns furiously. “He think if you want to mascot for team, one that want to go to Stanley Cup or at least in playoff, you have to be there from the start.”

Appalled by the attempt, Carlton has finish his contract up and go from there.

Brian Burke, owner of Burkey’s Dog House and occasional GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, met with Carlton on Wednesday and his agent, Youppi on Thursday and asked them to consider waiving the no-movement clause and to get back to them today with a decision. Carlton’s contract expired on November 15th, but he still owes the team 1 month of emergency replacement time.

Asked whether he’d come back again, Hennestrom dictated for him: “He don’t know. Anything possible, he guess. Definitely not for other team.”

Dallas, Edmonton, New York, and Philadelphia were the four teams interested in him, but Carlton had no idea when asked today.

“He didn’t even know teams trade for mascots” Carlton, unknown age said. “I don’t follow the off ice stuff”

“I’m just trying to solve my own situation here.”

What seems almost surely out of the question, even if Carlton were to waive his clause in a drastic change of mind, is staying with a team after this year.

“I can’t do something like that” said Carlton “I want to finish the year in Toronto, and finish my career in Toronto. It may be a good time anyway. I’m getting old in bear years, so I need to listen to my body, see how I feel physically, and mentally, and see if I can get ready for another year at this stage of my career.” It turns out that Jiri Tlusty is better at translating into fluent English, so he’s taken over.

The popular scenario played out among Toronto media and fans is seeing Carlton traded to a contender with the Leafs getting a nice package in return and then Carlton returning July 1 as a free agent. That’s news to Carlton.

“I haven’t even considered it, I haven’t even thought about that,” he said.

But he understands why Burke approached him.

“Listen, that’s part of the business of hockey,” said Carlton. “We missed the playoffs four years in a row and now we’re on the verge of a fifth year — we’re in a tough position — so obviously this is part of the business. We’re in the winning industry and everybody has to be accountable and that’s just part of it.

“Burkey’s's got to do what he’s got to do, that’s part of the business,” Carlton later added. “He’s got to do what’s best for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

Duke the Dog is still rumored to be following suit, with the Philadelphia Flyers offering Jeff Carter and a 1st round pick for the young, energetic puppy.

As for the Leafs mascot situation, Garnet Exelby will be taking over, not only solving that issue, but the defensive logjam as well.

“I’m excited” said the former defenseman. “It allows me to wear weirder and weirder hats by the day, and attack other mascots when they’re not looking”

“Iceburgh, watch out.”

UPDATE 1: Duke the Dog has invoked his no trade clause, leaving Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment desperate. Discussions have begun with the Dallas Stars to send MLSE Basketball Mascot “Raptor” to the Dallas Stars for Fabian Brunnstrom, a 2nd round pick, and a 3rd round pick.

UPDATE 2: Raptor has invoked his no trade clause, as has the oft-rumored Toronto FC mascot, confirmed to be a strand of Danny Dichio’s hair before he went bald. The strand was supposed to be traded for Matt Gilroy.

UPDATE 3: Carlton has found a clause in his contract to make himself an immediate unrestricted free mascot. The Vancouver Canucks are interested in having him in a lesser role, as a secondary mascot to Fin The Whale. Carlton said he’ll make up his mind very soon, probably today. He’s a stand up bear, so we’ll hold our breath