Andrew Mangiapane’s place with the Blackhawks is one of the more interesting lineup questions heading toward 2026-27.
Chicago has plenty of forwards in the mix, and that makes Mangiapane’s role worth watching. He arrived at the trade deadline in March as part of the package that sent Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Edmonton Oilers, and the Blackhawks quickly got a look at what he could bring. Before that, the 30-year-old had already built a solid NHL résumé as a hard-working forward who can chip in 30-plus points a season.
The Oilers signed Mangiapane to a two-year deal in free agency last summer, but they never really found the right spot for him. Chicago, on the other hand, wanted to see him with a clean slate.
Head coach Jeff Blashill was straightforward about why Mangiapane caught their attention: "But what I've known about him is, he's been a guy who's got kind of that really, really good work ethic and speed. So he's kind of a dog on a bone.
I think that fits into how we want to play, and he's got that with some offensive touch, and so that fits into how we want to play. Where he slots in with which line, we'll see as we go..."
That fit showed up mostly in the bottom six. Mangiapane developed some chemistry with Ilya Mikheyev and Ryan Donato, and that group gave Chicago a useful look at what he can do when things click.
The problem was availability. Mangiapane dealt with two separate injuries after joining the Blackhawks, and that limited him to 10 games. He still managed two points, but the bigger story was that Chicago never really got a full sample size.
Even so, Blashill’s view of him has stayed positive. "I think he's done a good job for us.
I think he's a good fit for what we kind of need. He's a real direct, north player.
I think sometimes we can get a little bit too east-west. You know, we have some young skill that can play that way at times.
That's a good thing, but also, you need to have a direct element to your game. And he definitely does that.
I think he's fit in very well playing with Mickey (Mikheyev). And I thought that line of Dono (Donato), Mickey and Mango was great, to be honest with you.
I thought they did an excellent job. And so, I think it's been a good fit.”
Blashill also had this to say after the March game against the Utah Mammoth: "You know what Andrew's done? He's brought us into the fight a little bit. Like he's very competitive..."
He added, "He's been a good addition. Again, a lot of compete to him. Somebody that we're happy to have a part of our group."
The roster picture only gets tighter next season. Chicago added more grit with Jordan Greenway and Cole Smith, and the team’s goal of reshaping the bottom six and making life harder on opponents puts Mangiapane squarely in that conversation.
That part of the lineup is going to be crowded, with Smith, Greenway, Landon Slaggert, Ryan Donato, Oliver Moore, Sacha Boisvert, and Mangiapane all fighting for space.
Still, Mangiapane is far from a lost cause. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff also raised the question, writing, "It’ll also be interesting to see what happens to Andrew Mangiapane.
He dealt with a lower-body injury but should be good in time for training camp. A few years ago, there were serious questions as to whether Mangiapane could make it as a bottom-six player for Canada’s Olympic team.
Those days are obviously way past gone, but a full, healthy season would be huge for him this year after a bit of a disastrous 2025-26."
The way things stand, Mangiapane could still carve out a role. The Blackhawks clearly like the way he plays, and even with a crowded depth chart, his experience and style give them another option on the third and fourth lines.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Face One More Tough Camp Decision On Veteran Scoring
After a busy offseason that included a reunion with Patrick Kane and a trade for Bowen Byram, the Blackhawks still have one more roster choice to sort through before training camp settles in. The front office has been weighing whether to bring in veteran scoring help on a professional tryout agreement or even go further and sign a free agent who has produced enough recently to merit a closer look.
The case for adding another experienced forward is easy to see on paper, especially for a young team that wants more offense and some insurance up front. But there is also a real roster squeeze to consider, since Chicagos forward group already looks crowded enough that another addition could squeeze the path for a prospect trying to win an opening-night job. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Next Wave Is Getting Attention Fans Cant Ignore
The Blackhawks long rebuild keeps producing reasons for people around the league to look twice, and the latest comes from Daily Faceoff, which put Chicago atop its prospect-pool rankings for the 2026-27 NHL season. Anton Frondell, Roman Kantserov and Nick Lardis were all singled out in the latest wave of attention, giving the organization more evidence that the pipeline has real top-end talent, not just a few hopeful names buried in the system.
Frondell, in particular, adds another layer to the conversation because he has said he prefers center but is willing to slide to wing if that is what gets him on the ice. For a team still sorting out its long-term picture, that kind of flexibility matters, especially when the next phase of the Blackhawks buildup is already drawing a bigger national spotlight than most rebuilding clubs usually get. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Bedard Is At The Center Of A Blackhawks Identity Debate
Connor Bedards rise in Chicago has already moved beyond the promise of a No. 1 pick. He has worn an alternate captains A, signed a five-year contract extension and made clear he has an interest in eventually taking on the full mantle of leadership for the Blackhawks. For a franchise still sorting out its next era, the conversation around Bedard is no longer just about production or potential. It is about identity.
Patrick Kanes return only adds another layer to the discussion, but not necessarily a reason to delay the decision. The Blackhawks are looking at a player in Bedard who figures to be part of the franchise for the long haul, while Kanes stay is expected to be shorter. With that in mind, the argument for making Bedard the captain now grows harder to ignore, even if the final call still carries plenty of weight inside the room. [Read more 🡒]