Trade winds are blowing around the Edmonton Oilers as the NHL season progresses, with forward Andrew Mangiapane's name at the centre of the latest speculation. According to a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the struggling winger may be open to waiving his no-trade clause to seek more playing time elsewhere. This development has put Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman in a position where he must explore the market.
A Free Agent Signing Gone Sour
What appeared to be a solid depth addition on July 1 has not panned out as hoped. Mangiapane, signed to a two-year deal, was expected to provide secondary scoring and a gritty, in-your-face style of play. However, through the first 39 games of the season, his impact has been minimal. The winger has managed just one goal since Remembrance Day, a drought spanning 25 games heading into Monday's matchup with the Winnipeg Jets.
Mangiapane, a proven NHL veteran with 537 career games and a reputation as a competitive agitator, was given ample opportunity early on. He spent approximately 95 percent of his first 25 games on a line with either Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid. Despite this prime placement, he recorded only eight points, leading to a demotion to a third-line role for much of December.
Examining the Oilers' Forward Logjam
Mangiapane's struggle for a consistent role is compounded by the unexpected emergence of other players. Vasily Podkolzin has provided unexpected secondary scoring with nine goals, while offseason pickup Jack Roslovic has been strong with 10 goals and 18 points in 26 games. Energetic rookie Matt Savoie has also chipped in with seven goals. This depth has made Mangiapane's lack of production more glaring.
The situation echoes recent history for the Oilers. The free-agent additions of Jeff Skinner and Victor Arvidsson in July 2024, prior to Bowman's arrival, also failed to provide the intended offensive support. Skinner never found favour with coach Kris Knoblauch, and Arvidsson was plagued by injuries.
The Case for a Swift Decision
While it may seem early to make a definitive judgment on a player only 39 games into a new contract, a historical precedent within the Oilers organization suggests otherwise. Legendary GM Glen Sather operated by a clear motto: "Never be afraid, no matter how early, to admit a player that you got isn't working out, and quickly move him along to somebody else."
Sather exemplified this approach during the Oilers' dynasty years. In 1987, he acquired defenceman Moe Mantha as part of the Paul Coffey trade. After just 25 games, Sather moved Mantha to Minnesota for centre Keith Acton, who helped the Oilers win the Stanley Cup in 1988. Later that same season, Sather again acted decisively, trading Acton to Philadelphia for enforcer Dave Brown to address a different team need.
The core question now is whether Stan Bowman will follow a similar philosophy. With Mangiapane potentially willing to move and the Oilers possibly in need of a depth veteran defenceman, the groundwork for a trade may already be laid. The coming weeks will reveal if Bowman decides to cut his losses early on a signing that has, so far, failed to deliver the intended results for the Edmonton Oilers.
