The experiment appears to be over. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Edmonton Oilers and forward Andrew Mangiapane are actively exploring a trade to give the struggling winger a fresh start. After signing a two-year, $3.6 million AAV deal on July 1, Mangiapane has found himself as the “odd man out,” culminating in a healthy scratch against the Winnipeg Jets.
With only 11 points in 39 games and his ice time plummeting, the writing is on the wall. While Mangiapane holds a full no-trade clause, Friedman reports he is willing to waive it for a better opportunity. The big question isn’t if he goes, but where. While the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins have been rumored as options, the Winnipeg Jets are emerging as the most logical landing spot for the distressed asset.
Why the Winnipeg Jets Make Sense for Mangiapane
Let’s look at this from an asset management perspective. The Edmonton Oilers are trying to fine-tune a championship roster, and frankly, Mangiapane hasn’t been the fit GM Stan Bowman hoped for. When you are paying a player $3.6 million against the cap to sit in the press box, something has to give.
Friedman’s report suggests three potential landing spots: the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins. As an analyst, I think we can immediately scratch two of those off the list.
The Calgary Flames are in a transition phase. They are pivoting toward younger talent and rebuilding their core. Bringing back a 29-year-old winger who has been in a statistical decline for three straight seasons—from Calgary to Washington and now Edmonton—doesn’t align with their timeline. The nostalgia factor isn’t enough to justify the cap space. Similarly, the Pittsburgh Penguins are staring down the barrel of their own roster retooling; adding a struggling middle-six winger doesn’t move the needle for them.
That leaves the Winnipeg Jets.
The narrative fit here is undeniable. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25, the Jets have stumbled this season. They are a team in desperate need of a shake-up but perhaps not a full-blown retool. They need a spark.
Mangiapane is a classic “buy-low” candidate for a team like Winnipeg. Despite his recent struggles, we know the motor is there. He was once a relentless forechecker capable of potting 30+ goals. If the Oilers are willing to retain salary or take back a contract, Winnipeg could acquire a motivated player with something to prove.
The Oilers’ Perspective
For Edmonton, this is about clearing the decks for Kasperi Kapanen’s return. Kapanen is cheaper and, arguably, a better fit for the speed the Oilers want on that third line. Mangiapane’s inability to stick in the top six, combined with his failure to produce in the bottom six, has left him in no-man’s land.
However, moving him won’t be a layup. That $3.6 million cap hit is an anchor given his current production (0.28 points per game). Edmonton will likely have to attach a sweetener or retain salary to facilitate a move, especially since Mangiapane holds the cards with his no-trade clause. He controls the destination, meaning he will only accept a trade to a team where he is guaranteed top-nine minutes.
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