Oilers Eye Forward Help, Mangiapane’s Future in Question as Trade Deadline Looms
With the NHL trade deadline just under a month away, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves at a familiar crossroads: a contending team with a clear need for depth, and a roster move that feels more inevitable than speculative. The name at the center of that conversation? Andrew Mangiapane.
According to recent reporting, Mangiapane may be open to waiving his no-trade clause, and the Oilers are actively exploring options to move him. The motivation is straightforward: his $3.6 million cap hit, once moved, would free up significant space-just over $3.4 million, per PuckPedia-to address other needs. And in a year where the Western Conference is wide open, that flexibility could be a game-changer.
The Oilers are believed to be in the market for a top-nine forward, but the internal expectation is clear: whoever comes in must be willing to embrace a bottom-six role. That’s been a sticking point in Edmonton for years. The team has cycled through a long list of depth additions-some promising, others forgettable-but few have managed to stick or make a lasting impact.
This issue of role clarity isn’t just a roster-building problem-it’s a culture challenge. As insider Elliotte Friedman pointed out, it’s not just about acquiring talent, it’s about getting players who buy into their role and know exactly where they fit.
He drew a parallel to Florida’s recent rise, where empowering every player-from the first line to the fourth-helped the Panthers go from good to great. It’s a lesson the Oilers are still learning.
That sentiment was echoed by former Oiler Derek Ryan, who spoke recently about his own experience in Edmonton. Under Dave Tippett, Ryan struggled to find consistency.
Jay Woodcroft gave him a defined role, and he thrived. But when Kris Knoblauch took over, that clarity vanished again.
Ryan ultimately retired, but his story underscores a broader issue: role definition matters, especially for veterans and depth players.
As for Mangiapane, it’s become increasingly clear that he’s not a fit under Knoblauch’s system. Whether it’s usage, chemistry, or simply a matter of style, the writing’s on the wall. Cutting ties now-while his value remains relatively intact-makes sense for both sides.
So who could the Oilers target in return?
One name that keeps surfacing is Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann. He’s taken a big step forward this season, jumping into top-six minutes and producing 19 goals and 32 points over 56 games.
But it wasn’t long ago that McMann was a bottom-six grinder, and the question is whether he’d be willing to return to that kind of role in Edmonton. If he is, his combination of scoring touch and physicality could be exactly what the Oilers need to round out their forward group.
Beyond McMann, there are plenty of names on the trade board that could fit Edmonton’s needs. The key will be finding someone who not only brings the right skill set, but also the right mindset. Because in Edmonton, talent isn’t the issue-it’s cohesion, buy-in, and building a lineup where every player knows their job and embraces it.
The Oilers have a legitimate shot at making noise this postseason. But if they want to go from contender to champion, the moves they make in the next few weeks-starting with Mangiapane-will need to be more than just cap-clearing transactions. They’ll need to be culture-setting ones.
Stay tuned. Things are about to get interesting in Oil Country.