The Edmonton Oilers are once again staring down the stretch run with Stanley Cup dreams in their sights. After back-to-back trips to the Final, this season is all about finishing the job and finally hoisting the Cup.
That’s why the front office made a calculated offseason move, signing forward Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year, $7.2 million deal. The expectation?
He’d slot into the middle-six and bring some offensive punch around the net. But through 47 games, that plan hasn’t exactly panned out.
Mangiapane has struggled to find his footing in Edmonton. With just six goals and six assists so far, he’s tracking toward career lows across the board.
He’s also spent time as a healthy scratch - not what you want from a guy brought in to provide reliable depth scoring. Now, it seems both sides are open to a change of scenery.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Mangiapane would be willing to waive his no-trade clause if the right opportunity presented itself - somewhere he could take on a bigger role and reset his season.
And there are teams out there that could use a player like him.
San Jose Sharks: A Fit for the Present and Future
Let’s start with the San Jose Sharks. They’ve already made one move this season, acquiring Kiefer Sherwood from Vancouver in a bid to snap a playoff drought that’s stretched since 2019. With young stars like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith stepping up, the Sharks are shifting from rebuild mode to playoff push - and they’re ready to make moves.
Bringing in Mangiapane might seem redundant after the Sherwood trade, but there’s more to it. Sherwood was targeted for his two-way game, and even though he hasn’t suited up yet due to injury, the team’s penalty kill has already jumped from 25th to tied for 22nd since the move.
Mangiapane, meanwhile, showed during his stint in Washington last season that he can be a difference-maker on the kill. He’s also known for his responsible defensive play - something the Sharks still need more of, even when Sherwood returns.
There’s also the contract angle. Sherwood’s a pending UFA, and while San Jose may try to keep him, there’s no guarantee he stays.
Mangiapane, on the other hand, is under contract through 2026-27. For a team looking to build a sustainable contender, locking in a proven two-way forward at a reasonable cap hit could be a smart play.
Winnipeg Jets: Searching for Secondary Scoring
Then there’s Winnipeg - a team that finished atop the standings last regular season but has taken a sharp turn south this year. At 20-24-7, the Jets are tied for seventh in the Central Division and struggling to stay afloat in the Western Conference.
Their defense has slipped, and Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t been able to cover for it the way he did last year. But the real issue?
Scoring depth.
The Jets are averaging just 2.90 goals per game, putting them 22nd in the league. The top line - Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Alex Iafallo - is doing the heavy lifting.
Scheifele leads the team in all major offensive categories, with 25 goals and 36 assists. Connor isn’t far behind with 58 points.
But after that, the drop-off is steep.
Gabriel Vilardi and defenseman Josh Morrissey are the only other players with double-digit goals and 20+ points. The next tier - names like Jonathan Toews, Iafallo, and Nino Niederreiter - are hovering in the high teens.
Mangiapane, even in a down year with limited minutes, has 12 points. And he’s done it while being shuffled in and out of the lineup.
This is a guy who put up 38+ points in three straight seasons with Calgary and added 28 last year in Washington. He’s proven he can contribute offensively, and in Winnipeg, he’d likely get more consistent ice time. For a team that needs scoring help and doesn’t have a ton of assets to trade, Mangiapane could be a savvy buy-low target.
Anaheim Ducks: Youth Movement Meets Veteran Stability
Anaheim’s another team that could make sense. Like San Jose, the Ducks are trying to claw their way out of a rebuild.
They’ve got one of the youngest rosters in the league - eighth-youngest, to be exact - and it shows. This is a team that can rattle off a seven-game win streak, then drop nine straight.
They’ve had multiple stretches of four losses in six games, but also put together a few strong runs. The inconsistency is glaring, and it’s exactly where a veteran like Mangiapane could help.
The Ducks are 31st in the NHL in goals allowed per game and 24th on the penalty kill. Their defensive issues go beyond the blue line - they need forwards who can help stabilize things. Mangiapane brings that, along with a solid two-way game and experience that could help balance out a streaky, youthful lineup.
Offensively, Anaheim’s top two lines are producing, but the third line is where things thin out. Chris Kreider leads that group with 17 goals and 11 assists, but his linemates - Jansen Harkins and Ryan Strome - have combined for just 11 points.
That’s not going to cut it if the Ducks want to make a legitimate playoff push. Mangiapane could slide into that third-line role and immediately boost the scoring depth.
A Trade Chip Worth Watching
No one’s calling Mangiapane a blockbuster addition. But in a league where depth and two-way play often make the difference in tight playoff races, he’s the kind of under-the-radar piece that could swing a series. Whether it’s San Jose, Winnipeg, Anaheim, or another team in need of a versatile forward, Mangiapane’s name is one to keep an eye on as the trade deadline approaches.
He’s not lighting up the scoresheet this year, but the track record is there. And for teams on the bubble, that kind of upside - especially at a manageable cap hit - could be the difference between booking tee times in April or chasing the Cup into June.