The NHL trade freeze might have hit pause on official moves, but don’t mistake that for inactivity. Behind the scenes, phones are ringing, texts are flying, and front offices are laying the groundwork for what’s expected to be a busy stretch once the freeze lifts in two weeks. And in Edmonton, the Oilers are right in the thick of those conversations.
The team’s to-do list is pretty clear: they’re in the market for a top-nine forward, and they’re also trying to find a new home for winger Andrew Mangiapane, whose time in Edmonton hasn’t exactly gone as hoped. Both tasks have proven tricky on their own - but there’s a potential path to solving both in a single move.
One idea that’s been floated involves a one-for-one swap: Mangiapane for Warren Foegele. On paper, it’s a clean exchange.
The contracts are nearly identical - Foegele carries a $3.5 million AAV through next season, while Mangiapane sits at $3.6 million for the same term. Both are 29 years old.
Both signed as UFAs - Foegele with the Kings back in 2024, Mangiapane with the Oilers this past summer. And both have underwhelmed offensively this season.
Foegele has put up just eight points (six goals, two assists) in 43 games. Mangiapane has managed 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 49 games.
Not exactly the kind of production you want from middle-six forwards, especially ones carrying mid-tier cap hits. But sometimes, a change of scenery is all it takes to get a player going again.
From the Oilers' perspective, Foegele brings a mix of pace, work ethic, and just enough skill to make him a fit for their forward group. He’s not going to light up the scoresheet, but he plays the kind of north-south game that Edmonton’s bottom six could use more of. And for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, adding a reliable, high-motor winger who’s familiar with the Western Conference grind could be a smart piece of business.
But here’s the catch: the Kings might not be so eager to play ball.
Los Angeles already has a logjam up front, and Foegele’s been a healthy scratch more than once this season. Since acquiring Artemi Panarin, that forward depth has only gotten more crowded.
Bringing in another winger like Mangiapane - especially one looking for a bigger role - doesn’t exactly solve a problem for them. It might just create a new one.
From Mangiapane’s side, the fit in L.A. might not be ideal either. He’s reportedly looking for more opportunity, not less. Going from Edmonton’s middle six to the Kings’ press box doesn’t sound like the kind of move that helps him get his game back on track.
That leaves Oilers GM Ken Holland with a bit of a puzzle. There’s still a path to landing Foegele - and potentially at a reasonable price - but including Mangiapane in that deal might not be feasible. If the Kings aren’t interested, Edmonton may have to explore a separate trade to move Mangiapane’s $3.6 million cap hit and open up the flexibility to bring in someone like Foegele or another middle-six option.
Bottom line: the framework for a deal is there, but it’s not quite plug-and-play. The Oilers are clearly motivated to make something happen, and the trade freeze window gives them time to work the phones and map out their next move. Whether that includes Foegele, Mangiapane, or both remains to be seen - but don’t expect Edmonton to sit still for long.