Elliotte Friedman reveals Oilers winger has suitor ready to pull trigger on trade

An Edmonton Oilers winger appears to be on his way out and top NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has dropped a major hint about where he's headed.

Andrew Mangiapane's time in Edmonton looks to be coming to an end after being made a healthy scratch in two of the team's last three games. Now, Friedman has revealed the most likely landing spot for the struggling forward based on what he has been hearing around the league.

Andrew Mangiapane could land in Anaheim per Friedman

During his recent Saturday Headlines segment, Friedman revealed that multiple teams have expressed interest in Mangiapane though concerns about the second year of his contract have given some organizations pause. Despite these reservations, the insider suggested such worries may not ultimately derail a potential deal.

"I do think there's interest in the player," Friedman stated. "I heard there were some teams concerned about the second year, although I had other people say they don't think that's going to be a big deal."

The Ducks have reportedly been actively exploring the possibility of adding Mangiapane to their roster. Friedman confirmed that "Anaheim was one of the teams kind of poking around at it." For the young developing Ducks, the 29-year-old winger could provide veteran depth and offensive support as they continue their rebuild.

Oilers have limited options

Edmonton finds itself in a challenging position with Mangiapane who has been a healthy scratch in two of the team's last three games. The former Calgary Flame signed a two-year contract worth $3.6 million annually last summer but his performance hasn't lived up to expectations.

As Friedman outlined, the Oilers have limited options: "Edmonton's going to have to do one of two things: move on from him, or they'll play him and see if they can get him on a good roll."

General Manager Stan Bowman also faces a clear decision. Trading Mangiapane would clear significant cap space which appears increasingly attractive given Edmonton's salary cap constraints and the pending returns of Philip Broberg and Kailer Yamamoto from long-term injured reserve.

Andrew Mangiapane was clearly frustrated with healthy scratch

Mangiapane has been candid about his frustration with being scratched. Following the December 29th healthy scratch against Winnipeg, he admitted, "There was a bit of anger I didn't play last game but that's behind us now."

When asked about his future with the team, Mangiapane expressed uncertainty: "To be honest, I'm not really sure (where things stand). That's the business side of it. We'll see how it plays out but it's something that's beyond my control. I will continue to focus on hockey."

The veteran forward has also acknowledged the areas where his game needs improvement, stating, "For myself, I have to be more on the puck, closer in the battles, be tenacious. Be in the battle, not on the perimeter waiting for somebody to get me the puck...move my feet."

His self-assessment suggests awareness of his shortcomings though whether he will get the opportunity to demonstrate improvement in an Oilers uniform remains uncertain.

Mangiapane's contract complications

Mangiapane's no-trade clause also complicates any potential deal. However, reports indicate he would be willing to waive that protection to find a better fit elsewhere. The Oilers have granted his agent Allan Walton permission to discuss possibilities with interested clubs which again shows the organization's desire to move forward with a trade.

The second year of Mangiapane's contract has been a sticking point for some suitors though Friedman's sources suggest this concern may be overstated. Teams seeking depth scoring might view the commitment as reasonable given Mangiapane's track record which includes a 35-goal campaign with Calgary during the 2021-22 season.

With prospects Ike Howard and Quinn Hutson being recalled from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors, roster changes appear imminent in Edmonton. Mangiapane seems the most obvious candidate to lose his spot permanently unless a trade materializes first.

If he does continue playing for the Oilers in the short term, it may simply be an opportunity to showcase his abilities to potential trade partners. Either way, the signs point toward Mangiapane's time in Edmonton coming to an end sooner rather than later.