Why the Clock Is Now Ticking on an Andrew Mangiapane Trade

The clock may be officially ticking on an Andrew Mangiapane trade — and the timing matters more than the names being floated.

On the January 6 episode of Oilers Now, Bob Stauffer asked Elliotte Friedman if there was a player he could see being moved in the next two to three weeks. Friedman quickly responded that Mangiapane was his best guess, with Friedman noting there’s been consistent chatter that an opportunity could open up for the winger soon.

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Why two to three weeks? That’s when the Olympic roster freeze kicks in, and teams that want to make meaningful adjustments to their roster before then have to do so by February 4. Reports are that many teams are holding off on trades until after the Olympic break — mostly because of possible injuries to players who are going — but Mangiapane’s situation is a bit different. He’s a cap dump deal and not involved in the Olympics.

If Mangiapane is going to move, the next couple of weeks represent the cleanest and most logical window to do it.

Reports suggest Edmonton has spoken with the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets. The idea is that, if the Oilers are taking a player back, they’re looking for a depth forward who will embrace the role Mangiapane isn’t keen to play, or really built for.

Are the Jets The Best Bet?

The team the Oilers play Thursday night, the Winnipeg Jets, stand out. They are searching for offense, struggling to find consistent scoring, and have a surplus of the exact type of two-way forwards Edmonton values. Insiders Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun have both pointed to Winnipeg as the most realistic landing spot.

All signs point to a bit of urgency surfacing here. If Mangiapane is getting moved, it will likely happen soon — before the Olympic freeze forces teams to hit pause and reassess, which the Oilers may not want to wait for.

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