Canucks O’Connor for Mangiapane Makes No Sense, Unless

There’s been some chatter—mostly sparked by The Athletic—about a possible Vancouver Canucks–Edmonton Oilers trade built around Andrew Mangiapane. Sounds spicy on paper, sure, but when you take a breath and actually look at what each team thinks of their own player, it feels a bit off.

In short, The Athletic suggested that the Canucks take Mangiapane’s contract ($3.6 million) that the Oilers really want to dump, and get a sweetener as additional return for doing so. In return, they noted that the Canucks should send back Drew O’Connor to the Oilers.

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O’Connor Is Wanted in Vancouver, Mangiapane Isn’t in Edmonton

Here’s the honest truth: Vancouver seems to value O’Connor (at $2.5 million) way more than Edmonton values Mangiapane right now. And that’s kind of wild, considering nobody expected O’Connor to be this good when the Canucks picked him up.

He was supposed to be a depth piece. Maybe a warm body. Instead, he’s turned into one of those sneaky-effective players who make coaches want to keep. So would the Canucks really send away a guy who’s outperforming expectations just because the Oilers need to dump salary? That’s the real question.

Why Edmonton Wants Out of the Mangiapane Contract

The Oilers are squeezed hard against the cap, and with the new CBA no longer allowing a third-party retention broker, they basically have to carry the whole thing themselves. Mangiapane’s salary-cap hit doesn’t feel great when he’s putting up 12 points in 49 games. He also has a plus/minus of -21.

That doesn’t automatically make him a bad player—just one who hasn’t fit there for a while. Edmonton needs space, and he’s the obvious guy to move.

On the other hand, O’Connor has put up 13 goals and eight assists (for 21 points) in 57 games. Even more telling is that, with the Canucks tanking, he has a plus/minus of +3. That’s quite amazing when you think of how many games the Canucks have lost and by how many goals.

But Why Would Vancouver Help Them?

This is where the Canucks need to be careful. Sure, Mangiapane might bounce back in a new spot. He’s done it before. But O’Connor is already playing well here, right now, in this system. And he costs a lot less. Coaches trust him. Teammates like him. He does the little things.

So why trade a guy who’s thriving… for a guy that another team can’t wait to unload? The answer is that, if the Oilers want out badly enough, Vancouver should at least be asking for something extra—maybe a mid-round pick, maybe more.

Even So, Should the Canucks Say Yes?

Honestly? Unless Edmonton sweetens the deal, Vancouver shouldn’t rush into anything. O’Connor has become useful in a way nobody expected, and the Canucks don’t have many inexpensive, reliable players who can move up and down the lineup.

If this trade ever gets serious, the Canucks should be the ones raising an eyebrow—not the Oilers.

Related: Insider Reveals the Cost for Oilers to Acquire Oliver Ekman-Larsson