Oilers' forward linked in a possible trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Reports continue to surface concerning Andrew Mangiapane's status with the Edmonton Oilers, with most projecting that he won't be with the team for too much longer.
It truly is a tale of two cities where Edmonton and Toronto are concerned, one in the West, which as of today leads the Pacific, and the other in the East, now dead last in the Atlantic.
Reports gaining traction from last summer's free agency market
Though they seem headed in opposite directions, one player connects the two teams; Andrew Mangiapane has been linked to the Leafs by way of a potential trade.
Andrew was recently mentioned by Elliotte Friedman on an episode of 32 Thoughts, in which the analyst claimed Edmonton had requested that the beleaguered free agent waive his no-movement clause.
The rationale was to one, clear salary-cap space for the Oilers, and two, find a new home for Mangiapane, where he could get more ice-time and be useful, given his role in Edmonton is now questionable, especially following his being scratched from the Oilers lineup versus Jets last night.
Mangiapane had been a free agent target of the Leafs this summer, along with a few other teams, right up to the moment when Edmonton signed him to a two-year, $3.6M AAV deal.
The question, however, is whether or not Mangiapane will waive his NMC. Many reasons suggest that he might.
He would certainly appreciate the chance to get more ice-time in a more offensive role, on a team that can use his secondary scoring ability. It's very possible he is revived in Toronto and finds the net.
The Leafs have a struggling skill forward of their own looking for a fresh start with Mattias Maccelli. The Oilers would have to take his salary back, and maybe they're just looking to clear Mangiapane's cap hit entirely - but there is some promise in Maccelli that could work with a strong Oilers offensive team.
From Edmonton's perspective, Isaac Howard and Quinn Hutson have been performing at an elite level in the Bakersfield, and will likely be called-up sooner than was originally anticipated.
One thing is certain, however; Andrew Mangiapane's time with Edmonton appears to be coming to an end.
Then again, he could go on a heater, and flip the script entirely.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30 | 831 ANSWERS Oilers' forward linked in a possible trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs Will Andrew Mangiapane agree to waive his NMC? | ||
| yes | 765 | 92.1 % |
| no | 66 | 7.9 % |
| List of polls | ||