The Edmonton Oilers are once again in the thick of trade chatter, and this time, it revolves around forward Andrew Mangiapane. The veteran winger, brought in on a two-year, $3.6 million AAV deal signed back on July 1, was expected to help patch up the team’s long-standing depth scoring issues. But through 42 games, the production just hasn’t been there-five goals, six assists, and recently, a spot in the press box as a healthy scratch.
The Oilers’ front office is reportedly exploring options to shake things up. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, Edmonton is actively looking to upgrade its forward group-whether that’s on the wings or down the middle. And given the Mangiapane experiment hasn’t paid off, it’s clear this team is still searching for the right combination to support its top-heavy attack.
Let’s be honest: depth scoring has been a thorn in the Oilers’ side for years. And despite a high-octane offense led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl-who’ve combined for 55 of the team’s 159 goals-there's still a glaring imbalance.
When over a third of your goals come from just two players, it puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the roster to pick up the slack. So far, that hasn’t happened.
The team has tried to inject life into the bottom six with players like Matt Savoie, Isaac Howard, and Jack Roslovic, but the results have been mixed at best. Whether it’s youth, inconsistency, or just a lack of chemistry, Edmonton hasn’t been able to find that reliable third-line punch that can tilt a playoff series.
But it’s not just the forward group under the microscope. The Oilers are also reportedly eyeing help on the blue line, with the Winnipeg Jets emerging as a potential trade partner. Two names mentioned: Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn.
Stanley, a towering 6-foot-7 left-shot defenseman, brings a physical, shutdown style that could help the Oilers in their own zone. Schenn, a 36-year-old right-hander with over 1,100 NHL games and a Stanley Cup ring to his name, offers veteran presence and grit on the bottom pairing. Neither would be considered a blockbuster addition, but both could help stabilize a defensive corps that’s struggled to limit quality chances.
And those struggles are backed up by the numbers. According to evolving-hockey.com, the Oilers rank 27th in goals against per 60 minutes, ninth in Corsi against per 60, and 18th in expected goals against. That’s a mix of high shot volume and too many dangerous chances allowed-exactly the kind of defensive profile that doesn’t hold up well come playoff time.
So here’s where things stand: the Oilers have the star power, no question. But if they want to make a serious run this spring, they’ll need more than just McDavid and Draisaitl carrying the load. Whether it’s a depth winger who can chip in 10-15 goals, a responsible third-line center, or a steady presence on the back end, Edmonton has to find reinforcements.
The trade deadline is still a ways off, but the urgency is real. This is a team built to win now, and the front office knows it.
If the Oilers can plug the right holes-without disrupting the core-they could be a dangerous out come playoff time. But if they stand pat and hope things fix themselves, they risk wasting another year of generational talent.