Edmonton Oilers

Columnist Calls Out Surprising Oilers Forward For ‘Sucky’ Contract

Is the Mangiapane contract Oilers a mistake? Shayna Goldman shares her thoughts on recent roster additions and their impact.

by
NHL Trade Talk
November 5, 2025

Shayna Goldman of The Athletic says she’s over the Edmonton Oilers. Suggesting she’s bored with the team and their never-ending storyline that they’re bad at first, then good later, Goldman took aim at a few new additions to the roster.

While a guest on The Sheet with Jeff Marek and Greg Wyshynski, Goldman took shots at Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic for their contracts, she said, “Okay, here’s a new cast of supporting eingers and oops they all suck. So it just gets so old so quickly.”

“I’m so bored of this team. I’m so over them."?@shaynagoldman_ joins @JeffMarek and @wyshynski to break down the Oilers’ underwhelming start and why it feels like the same story every single year

Presented by @Uber_Canada #CraveTheStats #UberPartner pic.twitter.com/gEHi0aWZSb
— The Sheet with Jeff Marek (@thesheethockey) November 4, 2025

While there is some understandable concern about Frederic’s eight-year deal, the fact that Goldman took aim at Mangiapane has surprised many, some of whom argue that she’s clearly not watching Oilers hockey games. Mangiapane has four goals in 15 games, on pace for 21 this season. Sure, the Oilers would like him to produce a bit more on that top line with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but for the $3.6 million he’s making on a two-year deal, it’s not terrible production. He’s certainly not “sucked,” as Goldman phrased it.

He’s also scoring at 5-vs-5, meaning he’s not getting any power-play boost in his production.

Andrew Mangiapane Oilers practice. Photo by Jim Parsons

Eventually, when Zach Hyman returns, Mangiapane will likely slide down to the third line. That’s probably where he should slot on a healthy Oilers roster and what his salary projects him to be. He’s not paid like a top-line winger, but was signed as a top-nine depth guy who could maybe get 18-20 goals.

Is Goldman right? Does Mangiapane suck and is his contract as bad as she makes it out to be? Or, is this a case where the winger hasn’t hit it out of the park and is being judged too harshly? One or two more goals in the next couple of games and Mangiapane is on pace for over 25-30 goals this season.

Next: Oilers Eye Moving Bigger Money Over Stecher Trade