Oilers Showcasing Forward with Draisaitl To Spark Trade Interest?

The Edmonton Oilers are working on a trade to move forward Andrew Mangiapane and to spark interest in him around the league, they are placing him beside one of the best players in the NHL on Wednesday night.

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Set to play on the right wing and Edmonton’s second line, Mangiapane will come into the lineup after being a healthy scratch and be elevated into a top-six role. While the coach wouldn’t confirm this was a showcase (of course, he wouldn’t say that), it appears that’s what this is.

Jack Roslovic will center the third line, where Matt Savoie will join him.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch said:

“With Andrew, just having him have a little reset. In spurts, he’s been really good, but other times we wanted more out of him. Feel that he’s the best for that situation, playing on that right side with Leon.”

Mangiapane spoke with the media on Wednesday and was asked about how he’ll respond after being a healthy scratch. He said he was a little angry that he wasn’t in the lineup, but he’s going to focus on getting back out there, “play my game and help this team win.” The hope seems to be that his game is enough to warrant interest in him from another NHL club that thinks he can help and would be willing to take the contract off the Oilers’ hands.

“I played with him earlier in the year, there was some chemistry there,” Mangiapane said of getting a look with Draisaitl. “Just gotta keep on building where we left off, obviously. they’re playing well right now so I just gotta go in there and, as I said, win those little puck battles, move my feet, be hard working, and help in any way I can on that line.”

What Does Mangiapane Think of the Trade Rumors?

As far as the trade rumors go, Mangipane said it’s the business side of things and he’s happy to be with the team. He doesn’t really know. “We’ll see where it plays out, but that’s kind of beyond my control. I’m just going to continue to play my game and focus on hockey, do whatever I can to help this team win.”

In a way, he’s right. He doesn’t have control over which teams have interest in him. But, if he plays well and there are teams that call, he has a full no-trade clause, so in that respect, he’s got some say over what happens in the next few days or weeks.

Next: Marc-André Fleury and the Oilers: Addressing the 3 Biggest Objections