The Edmonton Oilers’ situation with Andrew Mangiapane feels eerily familiar. On paper, the signing made sense. While he struggled in Washington, Mangiapane was a proven winger with a 35-goal last season on his NHL resume. That meant he had a scoring pedigree that, if placed with the right linemates, could unlock his previous offensive firepower.
He was brought in on a manageable two-year contract for a secondary offense. He started the season well, but then suddenly things disappeared. Since then, he’s been completely snake-bitten, now a healthy scratch and the subject of trade rumors.
It’s another example of a talented winger struggling to find traction in Edmonton.
This is not a new trend for the oil companies
Mangiapane has developed well in the lineup, scoring just five goals in 40 games, well below expectations. In fact, it’s so lame that it makes sense that the Oilers are already looking for other alternatives. This isn’t a team that can afford to have a $3.6 million winger when there are other options internally or that money can be used at the trade deadline.
The question becomes: why does this keep happening? And if the Oilers trade for another winger, or bring in someone like Ike Howard or Quinn Hutson, will they be more productive?
As The Athletic’s Sean McIndoe noted:
“There’s something strange about the way the Oilers keep signing talented offensive players to cheap deals that seem like they could miss out on wins, but then fail to really click with the existing offensive firepower. Last year it was Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. This year it’s Mangiapane, coming off an iffy year in Washington with an even less productive one in Edmonton – he has just five goals and 11 points in the first half.”
Jeff Skinner couldn’t find an advocate in head coach Kris Knoblauch. Comments like “play better hockey” were used when asked why Skinner wasn’t getting more attention. Ironically, Skinner wasn’t playing that bad when he came in. He just didn’t get any minutes. Viktor Arvidsson followed a similar path, struggling to produce the same type of songs as in Los Angeles and Nashville. Ultimately, and like Mangiapane, he agreed to forego his no-trade if a better option was available. Ardvisson was moved to the Boston Bruins.
Related: Oilers draft Hutson, Howard from AHL as trade rumors swirl
All three of these players were once proven goalscorers who, on the right track, were considered great finds with 20-goal potential. The only problem is that none of that happened in Edmonton.
It’s the minutes and the implementation
Part of the problem could be the opportunity these players have with the way the Oilers run their lines and deploy their top guys. On the surface, it’s easy to assume that these wingers should play well with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. However, they will always be a third wheel with a short belt. The Oilers pair their top two players in different situations far too often, and that leaves guys like Mangiapane, Skinner and Arvidsson on the outside looking in. There is no rhythm or patience for a few bad shifts. If the Oilers fall behind, they’ll go back to the well. You either have to score immediately and often, or you have to be lower in the lineup and get much fewer minutes. That will throw off a goalscorer.
It raises questions about fitness, commitment and the pressure that comes with playing in the cutthroat market of Edmonton and in a pressure cooker where it’s Stanley Cup or bust. Every mistake is huge and trust can quickly erode. It’s all but over for Mangiapane and he’s not playing anything close to the type of game he played when he was successful in Calgary.
What’s scarier is that the same thing appears to be happening with Trent Frederic, who the Oilers locked up for eight seasons.
Next: Oilers demote Max Jones and return to lineup
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