Former Capital reportedly on the trade market

Sportsnet floated it this week, Andrew Mangiapane could be the odd man out as the Edmonton Oilers get healthier. Elliotte Friedman tied the chatter to roster spots and shrinking minutes.

The numbers underline why his name popped up, five goals and 11 points through 39 games, with long quiet stretches in between. On Monday, the Oilers even made him a healthy scratch in Winnipeg.

Capitals fans know the player behind the rumour, because he was here a year ago and scored 14 goals in 2024-25. Washington got him from Calgary for that 2025 second-rounder, the kind of swing Brian MacLellan rarely takes on a middle-six bet.

On the ice, Mangiapane is still the same high-motor winger, he wins pucks on the forecheck and sneaks into the slot when the cycle turns. The problem in Edmonton is opportunity, the top-six is picky real estate, and the bottom six can swallow offense fast.

Caps fans still picture his Game 4 winner from last spring, so the press-box talk feels like a strange turn. Friedman also noted Mangiapane would waive his no-move for the right chance, which tells you this is not just internet noise.

If this turns into an actual deal, the selling point is simple, he is 29, skates hard, and can play either wing without cheating defensively. The risk is also clear, a $3.6 million cap hit is not tiny for a player living around ten minutes a night.

When Washington watched him last season, the fit was about pace and pressure, not power-play touches. His bigger picture résumé still holds up, a sixth-round pick, 166th overall in 2015, now sitting on 123 goals and 243 points in 498 NHL games.

The next milestone is March 6, and whether Edmonton keeps him as depth or moves the contract for breathing room. Either way, it's another reminder that a winger can look perfect on paper, then vanish when the lineup gets crowded.