The Edmonton Oilers made a significant statement ahead of their Tuesday matchup against the Nashville Predators, leaving nearly $7.5 million in salary sitting in the press box. Forwards Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic were both listed as healthy scratches, a direct result of their prolonged struggles on the ice this season.
A Concerning Lack of Production
The decision to scratch the two veterans stems from a stark lack of offensive output. Over their previous 18 games dating back to November 22, the pair combined for a mere one goal and three assists. Frederic's contribution during that span was limited to a single assist, highlighting the depth of the scoring drought.
Frederic, who is in the first year of an eight-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of $3.85 million, has managed only two goals and one assist in 41 games this season. Among forwards, he holds a team-low 0.07 points per game.
Mangiapane, the Oilers' marquee free-agent signing last summer, hasn't fared much better. Through 40 games, he has recorded just five goals and six assists, averaging 0.28 points per game. His anticipated role on a line with superstar Leon Draisaitl never materialized as hoped.
Coach Knoblauch Demands More, Youngsters Step Up
Head coach Kris Knoblauch addressed the lineup changes, emphasizing it was a chance for a reset rather than a final verdict. "Things haven’t worked out. Not that it’s over," Knoblauch stated. "We felt that they haven’t played as we’ve expected, and I think that there’s more for them to give us."
He pointed to the team's depth and the performance of prospects in the American Hockey League as key factors. "We’ve got a lot of guys who can play in the bottom six, and right now we’re just wanting more from those guys," Knoblauch explained. "And a little bit of a reset for those two. But also we’ve got some young guys that have deserved to get some opportunities to play."
That opportunity went to rookie Isaac Howard, who was called up from the Bakersfield Condors after being named the AHL Player of the Month for December. Howard tallied an impressive 16 points in 11 games last month. He was briefly joined by fellow Condors standout Quinn Hutson, who leads all AHL rookies with 32 points.
A Lineup Shakeup After a Post-Christmas Skid
The moves come as the Oilers look to reverse a recent slide. After a strong 8-2-1 run in December, the team has lost three of its four games following the Christmas break, prompting a reevaluation of the lineup's lower tiers.
During a recent 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, Howard, Hutson, and rookie Matthew Savoie were deployed together on a youthful fourth line. While their inexperience showed—the line was on the ice for a goal against and failed to register a shot—it represented one of the few times this season a bottom-six unit displayed a distinct identity, something the Mangiapane-Frederic duo has struggled to establish.
Teammate Leon Draisaitl offered some perspective on the challenge of integrating new players. "Coming to a new team is hard at times," Draisaitl said. "You’ve got to find your role. You’ve got to establish a role for yourself." For now, Mangiapane and Frederic will watch from above as they work to reclaim theirs, while a new generation of Oilers gets its shot.
