The Oilers Are Stuck In A Cycle Self-Correction
It’s no secret that the Edmonton Oilers are in win-now mode, and that mode has shifted to pure desperation as they enter the final two years of superstar captain Connor McDavid’s current contract. It’s completely understandable that the Oilers have spent years sacrificing future assets to win now, given the window they are in with the best player in the world on their roster. However, that desperation to win now has led Oilers management to make aggressive moves, many of which have been disasters. Their desperation has often forced them into awful trades or signings, sometimes to undo ill-advised moves or simply because they thought they had to fix a roster hole. This line of thinking has painted the Oilers into the corner they currently find themselves in, out of the playoffs in the first round, with an unhappy superstar and a fanbase left shaking their heads.
Edmonton has repeatedly paid a premium to plug holes in the lineup or to undo prior mistakes in player acquisition. This has been especially true for the Oilers’ depth, defensive reliability, and secondary scoring, where they’ve either ignored the problem or acquired players who created a hole. From the outside, it feels as though Edmonton is constantly chasing fixes, reacting to structural roster issues rather than building a roster with any semblance of a long-term plan. As mentioned, the Oilers sacrificed future assets to win now, but they’ve also repeatedly spent additional assets to fix the holes their prior aggressive moves often created. This type of thinking is often called the sunk cost fallacy, in which someone doubles down on a bad decision because too much has already been invested.
There are few better examples of Edmonton’s reactionary thinking than the Jason Dickinson trade with the Chicago Blackhawks prior to this year’s NHL Trade Deadline. The Oilers released a video of the team’s management group discussing the potential trade for Dickinson. Although the clips were just 2 minutes, they painted a picture of a management group with a relatively shallow, short-sighted understanding of the trade they were trying to make. Effectively, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman was trying to plug a hole on his roster that he thought he’d filled at last year’s trade deadline with the trade for Trent Frederic, only to see Frederic implode this season after signing an eight-year extension last summer. Simply put, the trade felt like damage control stemming from previous poor decisions with Frederic and the free-agent signing of Andrew Mangiapane, who was included in the Dickinson trade as a salary dump after a poor showing in Edmonton.
Mangiapane is a clear example of Edmonton’s mismanagement and inability to find the right pieces for the right roles. Signed to a two-year, $7.2MM deal, the Oilers hoped that playing alongside their skilled players would reignite the offensive side of Mangiapane’s game; however, that did not happen, and he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks less than one year into the deal.
As good an example as Mangiapane is, there is no better example than goaltender Tristan Jarry. Jarry was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in December, when the Oilers were in desperate need of better goaltending. The trade came less than three months after Bowman had stated that he “Liked where Stuart Skinner’s game was.” Bowman’s comments came on the heels of a summer with no movement in the Oilers’ crease, despite it being a clear area of weakness.
Skinner began the season with the Oilers, going 11-8-4 with an .891 SV% and a 2.83 GAA. At the time of the trade, Skinner was ranked 32nd in Goals Saved Above Expected, while Jarry was 22nd. Edmonton hoped that moving Skinner for Jarry would be a massive upgrade and even included defenseman Brett Kulak and a second-round pick.
The trade was a colossal disaster for the Oilers, as Jarry reverted to his recent form, going 9-6-2 in 19 games with Edmonton, posting an .857 SV% and a 3.86 GAA. Jarry wasn’t just bad in Edmonton; he was among the worst netminders in the league after the trade.
Had Edmonton management simply addressed the issue last summer, they likely would have avoided a trade for Jarry, which will have repercussions for years, as Jarry has two years left on his contract, a deal that is effectively buyout-proof.
The Oilers’ asset recycling continued with the Jarry trade and has become an alarming trend for a team that is shutting its own contention window with each passing season. The Oilers had a clear need to upgrade their roster construction last summer, particularly their goaltending and defense. Instead, they prioritized adding toughness, veterans, and depth scoring, and the results this past season speak for themselves.
The team clearly (and correctly) has a mandate to win now because of the presence of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but that urgency has distorted management’s decision-making, prompting panic move after panic move in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. Management often overvalues urgency and undervalues patience, particularly in player development and salary-cap management.
A persistent narrative in Oilers fandom is that the team is one piece away, but for a team that constantly patches holes mid-season, that logic seems flawed and generally indicates poor organizational planning. You could certainly point to trades and moves in a vacuum and say they worked, but when you zoom out and look at the broader picture, a pattern starts to emerge.
The pattern is that the Oilers have rarely built forward and have spent most of the McDavid/Draisaitl era trying to escape the consequences of their past bets. If the Oilers want to finally bring a Stanley Cup back to Northern Alberta, some hard conversations need to be had among management to break this cycle.
Injury Notes: Moore, Mangiapane, Hagel
Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill told reporters, including Scott Powers of The Athletic, that young forward Oliver Moore could make a late season return, but it’s also possible his season has ended. Needless to say, it’s uncertain at this time.
Moore suffered an undisclosed injury in early March, leaving against Dallas and not playing since. In the dreary closing games of the campaign for the 31st-ranked Hawks, bringing the explosive skater back into the lineup would bring some excitement. However, Chicago has no reason to rush their top prospect back.
The 21-year-old has recorded 19 points in 51 games this year, a successful first true NHL campaign. His 48% expected goals share is laudable for any young forward on a team less often in the win column. It’s a nice foundation to build off of in 2026-27.
Even if the 19th overall selection (2023) doesn’t eventually blossom into a true top six forward, he has the perfect skill set to be a force in the middle six. Such are the exact type of players Chicago needs to cap off their rebuild.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Also in the Windy City, Andrew Mangiapane is traveling with the team, noted by Powers. He won’t get to carry a chip on his shoulder to the ice in Edmonton, but could appear later in the road trip. Since coming over from the Oilers, Mangiapane has two points in seven games as he looks to rebuild his stock. His possession metrics have dipped even further as a Blackhawk, down to 43.6% corsi for at five-on-five, but that’s expected on the non-playoff team. If the 29-year-old is to restore his old high scoring ways, it’ll have to be by earning a larger role and getting power play time alongside Connor Bedard. So far Mangiapane is averaging 12:23 a night in Chicago, essentially the same as was in Edmonton.
- Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel is day-to-day and it’s unlikely he’ll appear tomorrow against Pittsburgh, per Diandra Loux of The Hockey News. The 27-year-old former sixth round selection continues to flourish with the Lightning, putting up 73 points in 69 games this season as the Bolts’ third leading scorer. It’ll be beneficial for the Penguins who are more in need of points than their opponents. Hagel should return far in time for the playoffs, as soon as Saturday against Boston. His club is currently fifth in the league, looking to end their three year first round exit streak.
Blackhawks Notes: Injuries, Lardis, Boisvert
The Blackhawks were without a pair of players for their game tonight against Colorado. Head coach Jeff Blashill told reporters including Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link) that winger Andrew Mangiapane and defenseman Louis Crevier were both injured on Thursday in Minnesota. There’s no word on how much time either player might miss. Mangiapane has a goal and an assist in seven games since coming over in a trade from Edmonton earlier this month while Crevier has held his own as a full-time NHLer this season. He has 17 points in 66 games along with 73 blocks and 107 hits while averaging a little under 17 minutes of ice time per night.
More from Chicago:
- When Chicago recalled winger Nick Lardis after the trade deadline, it looked like he was in line to get an extended look down the stretch. However, he has averaged just 10:33 per game of ice time since the promotion. That led Pope to question how the team has used the 20-year-old. While Blashill has talked about trying to see how Lardis fares in a more limited role to give him a better opportunity to establish himself in the NHL, the youngster has averaged just shy of a point per game in the minors this season and could use a boost in their top six. Giving him a chance in that role could have longer-term benefits than showing that he can handle a fourth-line role if needed.
- Prospect Sacha Boisvert’s NHL debut will have to wait a little longer. Scott Powers of The Athletic relays (Twitter link) that the 20-year-old’s visa paperwork has yet to be processed. Accordingly, it’s more likely that he debuts next week on Chicago’s road trip. Boisvert, a first-round pick in 2024, recently signed his entry-level contract and is burning the first year of that down the stretch. He won’t play enough to accrue a year of service time toward UFA eligibility and if he doesn’t play in at least 10 games down the stretch, Boisvert wouldn’t be eligible for an offer sheet in 2028.
Oilers Acquire Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach
9:50 p.m.: Both teams have now officially announced the trade, with the terms corresponding with what had been previously reported.
The conditions on the 2027 first-round pick received by the Blackhawks are as follows: if Edmonton’s 2027 first-rounder is inside the top-12 of the draft order, Edmonton may choose to transfer its 2028 first-round pick to Chicago instead, to be declared prior to the commencement of the 2027 draft. Should Edmonton choose to trade its 2028 first-rounder before the 2027 trade deadline, the 2027 first-round pick will automatically transfer, unconditionally.
7:30 p.m.: Friedman reported that young Blackhawks winger Colton Dach “is another part of this trade conversation to Edmonton.” His inclusion in the deal has not yet been confirmed, but it would help explain how the Blackhawks have managed (alongside the financial aspect of the deal) to land a first-round pick in the trade.
Dach, 23, is an Edmonton native who Bowman selected No. 62 overall in the 2021 draft. The 6’4″ pivot is the brother of Kirby Dach, a Montreal Canadiens center who Bowman selected No. 3 overall at the 2019 draft. Dach has broken into the NHL as a full-time player over the last calendar year, scoring seven points in 25 games last season and nine points in 53 games this season.
Entering the season, he was ranked as the No. 10 prospect in Chicago’s system by the team at Elite Prospects, and No. 10 by The Athletic’s Corey Pronman, who projected him as a future middle-six winger. Dach has averaged 11:40 time on ice per game this season.
6:18 p.m.: The Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks are discussing a trade that would send veteran center Jason Dickinson to Edmonton, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The move comes in the wake of today’s news, via Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 Edmonton, that veteran center Curtis Lazar of the Oilers is set to miss up to four weeks with an undisclosed injury.
According to Frank Seravalli of Frankly Hockey, the deal is currently still being discussed, but would involve Andrew Mangiapane heading the other way, to Chicago. Moving out Mangiapane and his $3.6MM cap hit is likely viewed as necessary for the Oilers to have the breathing room to add Dickinson’s $4.25MM cap hit to their books.
Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reported that the Blackhawks will retain 50% of Dickinson’s deal, meaning the Oilers should be able to comfortably fit in their new player’s cap hit with Mangiapane heading to Chicago.
In addition to those two pieces, Seravalli said the “framework of what’s been discussed” between Edmonton and Chicago includes “another piece” heading to the Oilers, and a conditional draft pick heading to Chicago. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun has added that as part of the deal, the Blackhawks will receive a top-12 protected 2027 first-round pick from Edmonton in exchange for Dickinson.
Undoubtedly, the Blackhawks’ decision to take on the full freight of Mangiapane’s contract, as well as retain half of Dickinson’s deal, has contributed to the significant asset they were able to extract from the Oilers.
The Athletic’s Scott Powers reported earlier today that the Blackhawks “don’t see a point” in trading Dickinson for a marginal return. If Dickinson is indeed dealt to the Oilers, it will be the second time this week that Edmonton has added a veteran player from Chicago. The Blackhawks traded veteran defenseman Connor Murphy to the Oilers on Monday, and it’s possible that, in the process of negotiating that trade, the possibility of a Dickinson deal was also discussed.
A key factor here is the presence of Oilers GM Stan Bowman. Bowman was the one who acquired Murphy back in 2017, during Bowman’s tenure as GM of the Blackhawks.
While he was no longer GM in Chicago when the team added Dickinson, he would undoubtedly still have many connections within the team’s hockey operations infrastructure, and therefore would potentially have more detailed information on Dickinson than another GM might have access to.
The fit for Dickinson in Edmonton is relatively easy to identify. While he’s not a right-shot center like Lazar, there are stylistic similarities between the two players. Dickinson, 30, is a 6’2″ true center who is a veteran of 549 NHL games. A pending UFA, Dickinson is playing out the final year of a $4.25MM AAV deal.
Early in his tenure in Chicago, it looked as though Dickinson was reaching new heights as an offensive producer. He scored 22 goals and 35 points in his debut campaign with the Blackhawks, riding a career-high 17.5% shooting percentage to a career year, one that landed him down-ballot Selke Trophy consideration.
In the last two seasons, Dickinson’s offensive production has evaporated. In 106 NHL games over the course of 2024-25 and 2025-26, he has managed 13 goals and 29 points. But even though he hasn’t been able to sustain his prior levels of production, he remains a valuable contributor in the specific role he occupies. Dickinson wins just about half of his faceoffs, provides a physical edge, and anchors the Blackhawks’ penalty kill as its top center. When Chicago is defending a late lead or has a big defensive zone draw, more often than not, its Dickinson who hops over the boards first.
That’s the kind of set of skills Edmonton is likely looking for in advance of what it hopes will be another deep playoff run. With two of the game’s best scorers already on the roster, and one of the best offensive defensemen manning the blue line, the Oilers don’t need Dickinson to be his 22-goal, 35-point self for him to provide value in their lineup. If he can maximize his current role as an Oiler, trading for him will be more than worth the cost for Edmonton.
With Lazar’s health uncertain, it certainly makes sense to target a player of Dickinson’s mold. The two forwards occupying top spots on the depth chart with Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, are not exact stylistic fits for when an injury is suffered by a defensive bottom-sixer. (Both Isaac Howard and Quinn Hutson are more offensively-oriented.)
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston noted an aspect of the trade that relates to a seemingly unrelated team – the San Jose Sharks. Per the terms of last season’s Jake Walman trade, in which Edmonton surrendered a top-12 protected 2026 first-round pick to San Jose, that pick would become unprotected if Edmonton were ever to trade its 2027 first-rounder. Because they have now done so, Edmonton’s 2026 first-round pick is now owned by the Sharks without restriction.
This is likely a moot point as Edmonton is well on course to secure a playoff spot. It’s nonetheless worth noting that in the event the Oilers endure a shocking fall down the standings, the Sharks are poised to profit.
In any case, the exact details of the trade are yet to be determined. What is clear, at least, is that Bowman isn’t done trying to add veteran help to his roster, and it appears the next area of interest is adding a bottom-six, penalty-killing center.
Photos courtesy of Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Oilers’ Andrew Mangiapane, Alec Regula Clear Waivers
3/2: Both Mangiapane and Regula have cleared waivers per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. They can now be assigned to the minor leagues, opening up more cap space for Edmonton to leverage at the Trade Deadline.
3/1: This afternoon the Edmonton Oilers revealed that Andrew Mangiapane and Alec Regula have been placed on waivers. With the Trade Deadline just five days away, the moves give the team much needed cap space.
Efforts to trade Mangiapane throughout the season have not proven successful. His $3.6MM cap hit through 2026-27 and a no trade clause are stumbling blocks for the usually steady secondary scorer who hasn’t been a fit with the Oilers. Last July, the idea was that the former 35-goal man could revive his offensive game alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Edmonton had moved on from Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson, so Mangiapane figured to be a worthy replacement.
Instead, to date, the soon to be 30-year-old has 14 points in 52 games and is a -19. It’s the first time he’s been in the negatives since a 10 game audition as a 21-year-old rookie with Calgary in 2017-18. Mangiapane’s 50.0% corsi for at even strength is indicative that he just doesn’t move the needle. Rather, Jack Roslovic has filled the role, making the most of his opportunity to play on Draisaitl’s wing. Mangiapane has been a healthy scratch at times, unable to find his footing in head coach Kris Knoblauch‘s system.
As recently as late February, it was noted that several teams have varying levels of interest in Mangiapane. Ottawa, Detroit, Anaheim, and Winnipeg have been linked, with the Senators known as having real trade talks for the forward. Now they’ll have the chance to bring him into the fold for nothing in return, although it would be doing a favor for their opponents in Edmonton, who are clearly handcuffed to the player for now.
In all likelihood, he will clear, still taking up at least $2.45MM against the Oilers’ salary cap, where they will have to add further incentives in a trade this week. At least for today, they’re dangling him on the wire, as one of the more notable players waived this year.
On the other hand, Regula was claimed off waivers by the team in December 2024, coming from the Bruins. He subsequently earned an extension through next season, at a more friendly $775k AAV, but now may find himself back on the move soon.
The former Red Wings draft pick is a coveted righty with size (6’4″) and is still just 25 years old. While GM Stan Bowman hopes to move on from Mangiapane, it’s not necessarily so much the case with Regula, whom Bowman himself acquired for his old franchise, Chicago, in 2019. Regula has simply been passed on the depth chart by Ty Emberson, as he hasn’t played since January 20. If any team is to consider a claim, they’ll have to look past Regula’s unfavorable possession metrics. Yet as far as seventh/eighth defensemen go, he is a viable option whether it will continue to be in Edmonton, or if claimed, which would become his fifth organization.
Currently third in the Pacific, Edmonton will be one of the most fascinating teams to watch this week. Their big acquisition of goaltender Tristan Jarry hasn’t evoked confidence yet, and Bowman will try to add more pieces to solidify the group’s spot in the postseason this spring.
Image Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Snapshots: Mangiapane, Ersson, Canucks
The Edmonton Oilers continue to shop veteran winger Andrew Mangiapane and are expected to trade him before the March 6 trade deadline, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported today. Pagnotta has previously reported on Mangiapane’s situation over the last month, writing that numerous teams, including the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets have had varying levels of interest in Mangiapane.
In past years, Mangiapane might have been a somewhat tough player to move, as he has an additional year on his contract at a $3.6MM AAV. While that’s not a salary that’s going to break any team’s cap sheet, the reality is his on-ice value this season has not been commensurate with his compensation, as he has just 12 points in 49 games. But Mangiapane has had his moments over the course of his career, including in 2021-22 when he scored 35 goals, or when he won tournament MVP at the 2021 IIHF Men’s World Championships, so it’s easy to see why a team with some financial flexibility might be interested in adding him at a minimal asset cost.
Other notes from around the NHL:
- Philadelphia Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson is entering a crucial stretch of the season, one where his future in the Flyers organization could be decided, writes The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz. According to Kurz, “it’s make-or-break time for Ersson in a Flyers sweater” and “If he doesn’t finish strong, it’s difficult to envision the Flyers tabling a qualifying offer this summer to extend him.” A pending RFA, Ersson has been one of the league’s weakest goalies this season. He has a .856 save percentage in 24 games this season, and was only marginally better in 2024-25, when he posted an .883 in 47 games. He’s making $1.45MM against the cap on his current contract.
- The Vancouver Canucks have a whole host of trade possibilities to consider as the trade deadline inches closer, and most attention has been paid to the team’s pending UFAs, including veterans Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger. But that’s not the only trade avenue the Canucks are looking at in their quest to add more future assets to their team. The Athletic’s Thomas Drance reported that the Canucks are “actively exploring” their options in terms of “weaponizing” its cap space in order to add assets. While Drance noted that the more favorable cap environment likely takes deals such as the Canadiens’ acquisition of Sean Monahan and a first-round pick off the table, Vancouver could still have some options with how to utilize its projected $5.7MM (or more) cap space set to be available by deadline day.
Senators, Oilers Had Trade Talks Regarding Andrew Mangiapane
Speaking on last week’s episode of Hello Hockey, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers have had trade talks regarding forward Andrew Mangiapane. He did not disclose how in-depth these conversations were or whether there was any further progress toward a deal.
It’s almost a foregone conclusion that Mangiapane will be traded this season. In late December, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman shared that the Oilers were looking to move Mangiapane in an effort to thin out a relatively saturated forward group. A few days later, Friedman again shared that Mangiapane wants to move to a better situation for himself, and that the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Winnipeg Jets had been in touch with Edmonton to some degree or another.
It stands to reason that the Senators will want to climb back into contention before adding a depth piece similar to Mangiapane. Despite being six points back of a playoff spot, six teams are separating Ottawa from the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They have a 3-6-1 record over their last 10 contests, the worst in the Atlantic Division over that stretch.
Furthermore, it’s not altogether clear how Mangiapane will benefit the Senators. He has been relatively disappointing over the past two years, scoring 19 goals and 39 points in his last 123 games between the Oilers and Washington Capitals. For context, in his final year with the Calgary Flames, Mangiapane scored 14 goals and 40 points in 75 games.
It really depends on what Ottawa would be looking for Mangiapane to contribute. The team is averaging 3.11 GF/G, good for 14th in the league. There’s always a place to add more goal-scoring, though the Senators have had much larger issues keeping the puck out of their net.
Mangiapane has shown flashes of being a defensively responsible forward, as evidenced by his 91.8% on-ice SV% with the Capitals last year. Unfortunately, he hasn’t played similarly this season, posting an 83.7% mark with the Oilers, the worst on the team for forwards who have played in 25 or more games.
If Ottawa is interested in Mangiapane for his defensive attributes, they will need to hope that their coaching staff can help revert him to how he played last year in Washington. However, if they’re looking to add more secondary or even tertiary scoring, there are likely better and more affordable options available than Mangiapane.
Multiple Teams Interested In Andrew Mangiapane
On Saturday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman shared that the Edmonton Oilers were actively looking to trade forward Andrew Mangiapane. Despite the struggles that might come with attempting to trade a higher-priced winger with another year left on his contract, some potential suitors have reportedly emerged.
According to a new update from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Oilers have spoken to the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Winnipeg Jets regarding Mangiapane. Edmonton is reportedly looking to acquire a “two-way” forward in return.
Outside of being division rivals, it’s difficult to imagine the Ducks and Oilers lining up on a trade for Mangiapane. Anaheim has a relatively deep forward core, and although they do need a winger on the third line, it’s only temporary while Frank Vatrano recovers from an upper-body injury. Additionally, even if the Ducks think that Mangiapane can rebound offensively, they already have a top-10 offense in the league without him.
Regardless, for speculation’s sake, the Oilers have likely contacted the Ducks due to their overwhelming cap space, and may covet one of Anaheim’s fourth-line forwards, namely Ross Johnston. The big-bodied winger is enjoying his best season to date, registering 11 points (the same as Mangiapane) in 39 games. Additionally, he offers more of a two-way style that they’re seeking, being one of the most physical forwards in Orange County and averaging a 92.3% on-ice SV% at even strength across his 10-year career.
Meanwhile, similar to Anaheim, the Red Wings make little sense as a trade partner given their deep forward core. Unlike the Ducks, Detroit could theoretically use more offense at even strength, though much of their drawbacks this year have been on defense, save a few players. The Red Wings could offer Mason Appleton, who is also signed through next season, in the hope of more offense from their bottom-six. Additionally, the Red Wings could offer struggling youngster Elmer Söderblom, who has been a healthy scratch on multiple occasions this season, like Mangiapane.
Lastly, of the three candidates, the Jets seem to be the likeliest fit. There is no more struggling team in the game as Winnipeg has only managed eight wins in its last 30 contests.
In his same report on Saturday Headlines, Friedman indicated that the Jets are desperately seeking goal-scoring. Additionally, if the Oilers want two-way players, Winnipeg has some to offer in Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson, Nino Niederreiter, or Vladislav Namestnikov, each of whom has struggled in their own right this season.
In fact, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic wrote just yesterday that Winnipeg appears to be the likeliest destination for Mangiapane. Although some teams might be hesitant to acquire Mangiapane and his $3.6MM salary through next season, LeBrun notes that the Jets may find this attractive.
Whatever the case may be, and wherever Mangiapane ultimately finishes the 2025-26 campaign, it will almost assuredly not be in Edmonton.
Morning Notes: Mangiapane, Sabres, Spitznagel
Last week, we covered reports coming out of Edmonton that the Oilers were looking to move out a few forwards, with Andrew Mangiapane and Noah Philp specifically named as two likely candidates. Philp was claimed off of waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes later that day, while Mangiapane remains on the Oilers’ roster, though he has been a healthy scratch for two of the last three games. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman addressed Mangiapane’s situation last night, saying that the Oilers are “definitely looking” to see if there’s a fit in terms of trading away Mangiapane.
Mangiapane, 29, has five goals and 11 points through 40 games this season. Complicating his odds of being traded is his contract, which carries a $3.6MM cap hit and a term that extends through next season. During his days with the Calgary Flames, Mangiapane was, without question, worth that kind of cap hit. He hit the 40-point mark three times as a Flame, and even managed 35 goals and 55 points in 2021-22. While Friedman did note that some teams view Mangiapane’s contract as a factor that could limit his chances of being traded, he also said that there are others who don’t see that as “a big deal.” It should also be noted that Mangiapane’s contract carries a full no-trade clause until June 15, meaning Mangiapane will need to sign off on any trade before the Oilers can deal him.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
- The Buffalo Sabres’ win streak came to an end last night, and their difficult loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets raised questions about whether the team is in need of defensive reinforcements to help it survive injuries to key players on their back end. The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn wrote yesterday that the Sabres “don’t have a lot of internal options [head coach Lindy Ruff] trusts.” Fairburn added that as a result, getting additional defensive depth “seems like a clear need that new general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen should be targeting on the trade market.” While it’s unlikely that means the Sabres will be shopping for high-end defensemen such as the Calgary Flames’ Rasmus Andersson, the injury situation in Buffalo does make the team a likelier candidate to pursue some additional defensive depth on the trade market.
- The Michigan Daily’s Matthew Auchincloss reported yesterday that freshman forward Teddy Spitznagel has left the University of Michigan Wolverines program, a development that was later confirmed by the program. Spitznagel spent parts of three seasons with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks before beginning his NCAA career, winning the Clark Cup last season. McKeen’s Hockey’s Brock Otten commented on Spitznagel’s Michigan departure, noting that Spitznagel could be a candidate to head to the OHL. If he decides to head to the OHL, he would be the second forward in recent years to depart Michigan mid-season to head to the OHL. Christian Humphreys, a 2024 seventh-round selection of the Colorado Avalanche, left Michigan for the OHL after just 10 games played last season. He ended up scoring 33 points in 28 games for the Kitchener Rangers and has 13 goals, 46 points in 33 games there this season.
Oilers Looking To Move Out A Forward
As the Edmonton Oilers return to a relatively healthy active roster, the team has begun looking to thin out a fairly saturated forward core. On today’s rendition of 32 Thoughts with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the insider shared that the Oilers are looking to move out a forward on the trade market.
Specifically, Friedman listed Andrew Mangiapane and Noah Philp as potential trade candidates. The latter is currently on waivers, and Friedman noted that there is some interest in Philp, but only if he clears waivers by this afternoon. If an interested team claims him, they’ll need to send him through waivers again if they wish to reassign him to the AHL. If they acquire him via trade after he clears, he’ll be ineligible for waivers for some time.
Edmonton’s thought process is fairly straightforward. The team has Zach Hyman back on the roster after a lengthy absence to begin the year, and recently activated Jack Roslovic from the injured reserve. Additionally, Friedman reported that Kasperi Kapanen, who’s currently on the team’s long-term injured reserve, is expected back soon.
Having so many players on the LTIR has limited the Oilers’ ability to accrue additional cap space for the trade deadline, so moving out a forward or two via the trade market will allow them to make bigger additions down the line if they choose to do so. Mangiapane, in particular, is making $3.6MM this season and next, making him the sixth-highest paid forward on the team.
It’s not a relationship that has gone particularly well, either. Edmonton brought Mangiapane back to Alberta last summer after a one-year stint with the Washington Capitals, though he hasn’t provided the middle-six firepower the Oilers were hoping for. He’s scored five goals and 11 points in 39 games this season, averaging 13:31 of ice time per game with a -16 rating.
Much like the Los Angeles Kings did with center Phillip Danault, Friedman suggested that the Oilers and Mangiapane could be heading for a mutual split. Mangiapane has a full no-trade clause this season, though he would likely waive that protection if he felt he could be moved to a better situation.
Meanwhile, the external interest in Philp is largely based on his role as a right-handed center, which is always in high demand around the league. His output has been fairly tepid with the Oilers, scoring two goals and five points in 30 games since the 2024-25 campaign. However, he did record 19 goals and 35 points in 55 games for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors last season.
Aside from returning to a healthy lineup, the Oilers are facing more pressure to recall Isaac Howard back to the NHL. He’s certainly doing his best to force their hand, scoring nine goals and 20 points in 15 games for AHL Bakersfield with a +10 rating.
Regardless, if the Oilers feel satisfied with their roster leading up to the trade deadline, especially after acquiring Tristan Jarry and Spencer Stastney a few weeks ago, there are other options available to them. Aside from sending Philp through waivers, they could reassign depth forward Max Jones, which would give them another open spot.
Photo courtesy of Perry Nelson-Imagn Images.