I know this is old, but I'm working on something similar in SVG. I took a stab at modifying jqSimpleConnect, and it appears to work in a Mango user module. Here's what I did in case @BobDay still needs it or anyone else finds it useful.
First, I just put a copy of jqSimpleConnect.js in my public filestore, importing it in the define section of my user module. That let me start playing with it in the Chrome dev console until I could get it working. It defaults to putting the lines in the body, which are hidden behind the Mango UI. I tweaked it to use the Mango UI view area where custom pages are displayed and accounted for relative positioning. Finally, I wrapped it in a service.
I won't assert that this is correct way, but on a simple test page I could successfully recreate the basic jqSimpleConnect example.
In the user module, reference it in the three locations needed to make it a service.
define([
    'angular',
    'require',
    ...
    './services/simpleConnectService.js',
],
function(angular, require, ..., simpleConnectService) {
'use strict';
var yourModule = angular.module('yourModule', []);
yourModule.service('simpleConnect', [simpleConnectService]);
...
I didn't bother actually testing directives. I just injected it into a random test component I had, logged it to the console, saved as variable, and played with it interactively from there.
temp1.connect('#div_a', '#div_b', {radius: 8, color: 'green'});
Now for the wrapped/modified jQuery. I left comments to show what I changed.
define([], function() {
'use strict';
// SimpleConnectService wraps jqSimpleConnect as an AngularJS service for Mango.
// There are a few tweaks to make it work with the Mango dashboards, see "NOTE:" comments for modifications.
function SimpleConnectService() {
    /*
    * «Copyright 2012 José F. Maldonado»
    *
    * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
    */
    /**
     * Declare namespace
     */
    // NOTE: Use the service itself.
    // jqSimpleConnect = new Object();
    let jqSimpleConnect = this;
    /**
     * This member is an auxiliary counter used for generate unique identifiers.
     */
    jqSimpleConnect._idGenerator = 0;
    /**
     * This member is an associative array which contains all the document's connections.
     */
    jqSimpleConnect._connections = new Object();
    /**
     * Positions a connection, acording to the position of the elements which connects.
     * 
     * @param {object} connection A connection object.
     */
    jqSimpleConnect._positionConnection = function(connection) {
        // Calculate the positions of the element's center.
        // NOTE: Get the position of the Mango UI view for displaying custom pages.
        let uiOffset = jQuery('div.ma-ui-main-view > div[ui-view]').offset();
        let uiPos = jQuery('div.ma-ui-main-view > div[ui-view]').position();
        uiPos.left = parseInt(uiOffset.left) - parseInt(uiPos.left);
        uiPos.top = parseInt(uiOffset.top) - parseInt(uiPos.top);
        // Calculate the positions of the element's center.
        var posA = connection.elementA.offset();
        // NOTE: Use the UI offset to calculate a relative offset.
        // posA.left = parseInt(posA.left, 10) + parseInt(connection.elementA.outerWidth()/2, 10);
        // posA.top = parseInt(posA.top, 10) + parseInt(connection.elementA.outerHeight()/2, 10);
        posA.left = parseInt(posA.left, 10) - uiPos.left + parseInt(connection.elementA.outerWidth()/2, 10);
        posA.top = parseInt(posA.top, 10) - uiPos.top + parseInt(connection.elementA.outerHeight()/2, 10);
        var posB = connection.elementB.offset();
        // NOTE: Use the UI offset to calculate a relative offset.
        // posB.left = parseInt(posB.left, 10) + parseInt(connection.elementB.outerWidth()/2, 10);
        // posB.top = parseInt(posB.top, 10) + parseInt(connection.elementB.outerHeight()/2, 10);
        posB.left = parseInt(posB.left, 10) - uiPos.left + parseInt(connection.elementB.outerWidth()/2, 10);
        posB.top = parseInt(posB.top, 10) - uiPos.top + parseInt(connection.elementB.outerHeight()/2, 10);
        // Get the line's elements.
        var line1 = jQuery('#' + connection.id + '_1');
        var line2 = jQuery('#' + connection.id + '_2');
        var line3 = jQuery('#' + connection.id + '_3');
        // Verify if the elements are aligned in a horizontal or vertical line.
        if(posA.left == posB.left || posA.top == posB.top) {
            // Uses only one line (hide the other two).
            line1.show();
            line2.hide();
            line3.hide();
            // Verify if the line must be vertical or horizonal.
            if(posA.left == posB.left) {
                // Vertical line.
                jqSimpleConnect._positionVerticalLine(line1, posA, posB, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
            } else {
                // Horizontal line.
                jqSimpleConnect._positionHorizontalLine(line1, posA, posB, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
            }
        } else {
            // Verify if must use two lines or three.
            if(connection.anchorA != connection.anchorB) {
                // Use two lines (hide the third).
                line1.show();
                line2.show();
                line3.hide();
    
                // Check the anchors of the elements.
                var corner = new Object();
                if(connection.anchorA == 'vertical') {
                    // Find the corner's position.
                    corner.left = posA.left;
                    corner.top = posB.top;
                    
                    // Draw lines.
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionVerticalLine(line1, posA, corner, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionHorizontalLine(line2, posB, corner, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                } else {
                    // Find the corner's position.
                    corner.left = posB.left;
                    corner.top = posA.top;
                    
                    // Draw lines.
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionVerticalLine(line1, posB, corner, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionHorizontalLine(line2, posA, corner, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                }
            } else {
                // Use three lines.
                line1.show();
                line2.show();
                line3.show();
                
                // Declare connection points.
                var corner1 = new Object();
                var corner2 = new Object();
                
                // Find if the middle's line must be vertical o horizontal.
                if(connection.anchorA == 'vertical') {
                    // Middle's line must be horizontal.
                    corner1.top = parseInt((posA.top + posB.top)/2, 10);
                    corner2.top = corner1.top;
                    corner1.left = posA.left;
                    corner2.left = posB.left;
                    
                    // Draw lines.
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionVerticalLine(line1, posA, corner1, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionVerticalLine(line2, posB, corner2, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionHorizontalLine(line3, corner1, corner2, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                } else {
                    // Middle's line must be vertical.
                    corner1.left = parseInt((posA.left + posB.left)/2, 10);
                    corner2.left = corner1.left;
                    corner1.top = posA.top;
                    corner2.top = posB.top;
                    
                    // Draw lines.
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionHorizontalLine(line1, posA, corner1, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionHorizontalLine(line2, posB, corner2, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                    jqSimpleConnect._positionVerticalLine(line3, corner1, corner2, connection.radius, connection.roundedCorners);
                }
            }
        }
    }
    /**
     * Draws a vertical line, between the two points, by changing the properties of a HTML element.
     *
     *@param {object} jqElement A jQuery object of the HTML element used for represent the line.
    *@param {object} point1 An object with the properties 'left' and 'top' representing the position of the first point.
    *@param {object} point2 An object with the properties 'left' and 'top' representing the position of the second point.
    *@param {integer} radius The line's radius.
    *@param {boolean} roundedCorners A boolean indicating if the corners are going to be round.
    */
    jqSimpleConnect._positionVerticalLine = function(jqElement, point1, point2, radius, roundedCorners) {
        var halfRadius = parseInt(radius/2, 10);
        jqElement.css('left', point1.left - halfRadius);
        jqElement.css('top', ((point1.top > point2.top)? (point2.top - halfRadius) : (point1.top - halfRadius)));
        jqElement.css('width', radius + 'px');
        jqElement.css('height', ((point1.top > point2.top)? (point1.top - point2.top + radius) : (point2.top - point1.top + radius) ) + 'px');
    }
    /**
     * Draws a horizontal line, between the two points, by changing the properties of a HTML element.
     *
     *@param {object} jqElement A jQuery object of the HTML element used for represent the line.
    *@param {object} point1 An object with the properties 'left' and 'top' representing the position of the first point.
    *@param {object} point2 An object with the properties 'left' and 'top' representing the position of the second point.
    *@param {integer} radius The line's radius.
    *@param {boolean} roundedCorners A boolean indicating if the corners are going to be round.
    */
    jqSimpleConnect._positionHorizontalLine = function(jqElement, point1, point2, radius, roundedCorners) {
        var halfRadius = parseInt(radius/2, 10);
        jqElement.css('top', point1.top - halfRadius);
        jqElement.css('left', ((point1.left > point2.left)? (point2.left - halfRadius) : (point1.left - halfRadius)));
        jqElement.css('height', radius + 'px');
        jqElement.css('width', ((point1.left > point2.left)? (point1.left - point2.left + radius) : (point2.left - point1.left + radius) ) + 'px');
    }
    /**
     * Draws a connection between two elements.
     *
     * @param {object} elementA A CSS selector or a jQuery's object for select the first element.
     * @param {object} elementB A CSS selector or a jQuery's object for select the second element.
     * @param {object} options An associative array with the properties 'color' (which defines the color of the connection), 'radius' (the width of the
     * connection), 'roundedCorners' (a boolean indicating if the corners must be round), 'anchorA' (the anchor type of the first element, which can be 
     * 'horizontal' or 'vertical') and 'anchorB' (the anchor type of second element).
     * @returns {string} The connection identifier or 'null' if the connection could not be draw.
     */
    jqSimpleConnect.connect = function(elementA, elementB, options) {
        // Verify if the element's selector are ok.
        // NOTE: Use length instead of size(). AngularJS/Mango's jQuery doesn't have size.
        // if(elementA == null || jQuery(elementA).size() == 0 ||
        //    elementB == null || jQuery(elementB).size() == 0) {
        //    return null;
        //    }
        if(elementA == null || jQuery(elementA).length == 0 ||
        elementB == null || jQuery(elementB).length == 0) {
            // NOTE: Yell at me when I make a typo. Remove when it's working, or make this more useful.
            console.warn('failed to locate elements');
        return null;
        }
        // NOTE: Use length instead of size() here too.
        elementA = jQuery(elementA);
        // if(elementA.size() > 1) elementA = elementA.first();
        if(elementA.length > 1) elementA = elementA.first();
        elementB = jQuery(elementB);
        // if(elementB.size() > 1) elementB = elementB.first();
        if(elementB.length > 1) elementB = elementB.first();
        // Create connection object.
        var connection = new Object();
        connection.id = 'jqSimpleConnect_' + jqSimpleConnect._idGenerator++;
        connection.elementA = elementA;
        connection.elementB = elementB;
        connection.color = (options != null && options.color != null)? options.color + '' : '#808080';
        connection.radius = (options != null && options.radius != null && !isNaN(options.radius))? parseInt(options.radius, 10) : 5;
        connection.anchorA = (options != null && options.anchorA != null && (options.anchorA == 'vertical' || options.anchorA == 'horizontal'))? options.anchorA : 'horizontal';
        connection.anchorB = (options != null && options.anchorB != null && (options.anchorB == 'vertical' || options.anchorB == 'horizontal'))? options.anchorB : 'horizontal';
        connection.roundedCorners = options != null && options.roundedCorners != null && (options.roundedCorners == true || options.roundedCorners == 'true');
        connection.click = (options != null && options.click != null)? options.click : null;
        connection.mouseover = (options != null && options.mouseover != null)? options.mouseover : null;
        connection.mouseout = (options != null && options.mouseout != null)? options.mouseout : null;
        
        // Add connection to the connection's list.
        jqSimpleConnect._connections[connection.id] = connection;
        // Create HTML elements.
        var div = '<div id="divUniqueIdentifier" class="jqSimpleConnect '+connection.id+'" ' + 
                'style="width:'+connection.radius+'px; ' +
                        'height:'+connection.radius+'px; ' +
                        'background-color:'+connection.color+'; ' +
                        (connection.roundedCorners? 'border-radius:'+parseInt(connection.radius/2,10)+'px; -webkit-border-radius:'+parseInt(connection.radius/2,10)+'px; -moz-border-radius:'+parseInt(connection.radius/2,10)+'px; ' : '') + 
                        'position:absolute;"></div>';
        // NOTE: 'body' will place elements behind the page. Instead of messing with z-index, use the Mango UI view.
        // jQuery('body').prepend(div.replace('divUniqueIdentifier', connection.id + '_1'));
        // jQuery('body').prepend(div.replace('divUniqueIdentifier', connection.id + '_2'));
        // jQuery('body').prepend(div.replace('divUniqueIdentifier', connection.id + '_3'));
        jQuery('div.ma-ui-main-view > div[ui-view]').prepend(div.replace('divUniqueIdentifier', connection.id + '_1'));
        jQuery('div.ma-ui-main-view > div[ui-view]').prepend(div.replace('divUniqueIdentifier', connection.id + '_2'));
        jQuery('div.ma-ui-main-view > div[ui-view]').prepend(div.replace('divUniqueIdentifier', connection.id + '_3'));
        jQuery("."+connection.id).click(function() {
            if(typeof connection.click == "function") {
                connection.click(connection);
            }
        }).on("mouseover", function() {
            if(typeof connection.mouseover == "function") {
                connection.mouseover(connection);
            }
        }).on("mouseout", function() {
            if(typeof connection.mouseout == "function") {
                connection.mouseout(connection);
            }
        });
        
        // Position connection.
        jqSimpleConnect._positionConnection(connection);
        
        // Return result.
        return connection.id;
    }
    /**
     * Repaints a connection.
     *
     * @param {string} connectionId The connection identifier.
     * @returns {boolean} 'true' if the operation was done, 'false' if the connection no exists.
     */
    jqSimpleConnect.repaintConnection = function(connectionId) {
        var connection = jqSimpleConnect._connections[connectionId];
        if(connection != null) {
            jqSimpleConnect._positionConnection(connection);
            return true;
        }
        return false;
    }
    /**
     * Repaints all the connections.
     */
    jqSimpleConnect.repaintAll = function() {
        for(var key in jqSimpleConnect._connections) {
            jqSimpleConnect._positionConnection(jqSimpleConnect._connections[key]);
        }
    }
    /**
     * Removes a connection.
     *
     * @param {string} connectionId The connection identifier.
     * @returns {boolean} 'true' if the operation was done, 'false' if the connection no exists.
     */
    jqSimpleConnect.removeConnection = function(connectionId) {
        if(jqSimpleConnect._connections[connectionId] != null) {
            // Remove HTML element.
            jQuery('.jqSimpleConnect.'+connectionId).remove();
            
            // Remove connection data.
            jqSimpleConnect._connections[connectionId] = null;
            delete jqSimpleConnect._connections[connectionId];
            
            // Return result.
            return true;
        }
        return false;
    }
    /**
     * Removes all the connections.
     */
    jqSimpleConnect.removeAll = function() {
        // Remove HTML elements.
        jQuery('.jqSimpleConnect').remove();
        
        // Clear connections list.
        for(var key in jqSimpleConnect._connections) {
            jqSimpleConnect._connections[key] = null;
            delete jqSimpleConnect._connections[key];
        }
    }
// End of jqSimpleConnect.
} return SimpleConnectService;
});