Multiple top-nine forwards left the Edmonton Oilers organization this past summer, with names such as Connor Brown, Corey Perry, Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, and more.

It seemed that management decided to primarily bank on internal growth to offset those departures, particularly from prospects Matthew Savoie and Isaac Howard. The Oilers added only one notable, established forward with real NHL top‑nine experience in the off-season: Andrew Mangiapane.

Many Edmonton fans were already quite familiar with Mangiapane. The 29-year-old forward appeared in seven seasons with the Calgary Flames, with his tenure in Calgary being highlighted by a 35-goal season in 2021-22. His production had dipped in the years since, but most still projected him as a solid top‑nine forward, one who could at least be an effective third‑line winger if not a regular option alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl in the top-six.

So far, however, Mangiapane has fallen well short of those expectations.

Through 47 games this season, Mangiapane has just 6 goals and 12 points, just barely equating to a 20-point pace over 82 games. In addition, he holds a team-worst even-strength goal differential of -18, which also currently ranks second last among all forwards this season. In Edmonton’s most recent game against the Minnesota Wild, Mangiapane was healthy scratched, which has occurred on several occasions this season.

As the trade deadline approaches, it has become increasingly clear that both the Oilers and Mangiapane are ready to move on. Back in December, Tom Gazzola reported that Edmonton had granted Mangiapane’s agent permission to seek a trade, and according to TSN’s Pierre Lebrun, Edmonton has had “ongoing conversations with teams open-minded about a return” for the winger. As he carries a $3.6M cap-hit, the Oilers could certainly benefit from moving Mangiapane to create space for an acquisition, potentially a different forward that could........

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