Oilers Shake Up the Lineup as Mangiapane Sits Against Jets
When the Edmonton Oilers took the ice against the Winnipeg Jets, one name was noticeably missing from the lineup, and it definitely raised eyebrows. Andrew Mangiapane, a veteran forward brought in to add scoring depth and experience, was made a healthy scratch for this matchup. That decision alone tells a bigger story about where both the player and the team currently stand.
This move wasn’t driven by injury or illness. Instead, it was a performance-based call, and it reflects how challenging Mangiapane’s season has been so far. Through 39 games, just five goals and 11 points have been produced, along with a minus-16 rating. Even more concerning, only one point has been recorded in his last 11 games, a lone goal scored against Minnesota back on December 20. For a player in the first year of a two-year, $7.2 million contract, those numbers simply haven’t matched expectations.
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What makes this situation more complex is the timing. The Oilers are finally getting healthier, and with that comes internal competition. Key forwards have been returning, depth players are pushing for more ice time, and younger names like Ike Howard and Quinn Hutson are beginning to make real cases for NHL opportunities. As a result, ice time has been squeezed, and Mangiapane’s role has clearly been reduced, with several recent games seeing him play fewer than 10 minutes.
It’s a tough contrast when looking back at what Mangiapane has already accomplished in his career. Drafted in the sixth round by Calgary, he once delivered a breakout 35-goal season in 2021–22 and proved himself on the international stage by helping Canada win gold at the World Championship, earning tournament MVP honors in the process. Over more than 500 NHL games, he’s built a respectable résumé across stints with the Flames, Capitals, and now the Oilers.
Now, however, questions are being asked about his future in Edmonton. With roster pressure increasing, it has been reported that Mangiapane could be open to waiving his no-move clause if a trade scenario offered him a larger role elsewhere. This isn’t being framed as a demand, but rather a mutual understanding that if production doesn’t improve, options may need to be explored.
For the moment, being scratched against the Jets sends a clear message. Performance matters, opportunity must be earned, and nothing is guaranteed on a roster that’s getting deeper by the week. Whether Mangiapane responds with a bounce-back stretch or finds himself part of a bigger roster move is now one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding the Oilers.
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