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The Edmonton Oilers may have a tough time adding players ahead of the trade deadline. All NHL teams are currently in a roster freeze because of the Olympics. As a result, clubs cannot officially complete trades until February 23. Nevertheless, this does not necessarily mean that teams are just sitting around waiting for the freeze to end. Trade negotiations are certainly ongoing at the moment.
Edmonton likely wants to bring in at least one addition before the March 6 deadline. After all, the Oilers have fallen in the pecking order in the ultra-competitive Western Conference in 2025-26. Despite reaching the Stanley Cup finals in each of the last two years, the team is currently sixth in the conference standings.
While they would like to add to their roster, the Oilers do not have a ton of money to work with. In fact, PuckPedia.com claims that Edmonton has just $2.89 million in current cap space. One specific trade that the team would love to make is to acquire Bobby McMann from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The star forward carries an annual cap hit of just $1.35 million. A deal, however, may come at a high cost, including a high draft pick and a quality prospect.
If the Oilers opt not to give up future assets, they will likely have to offload Andrew Mangiapane to make a move. The team has been shopping the forward for over a month, but has yet to find a trade partner. Nevertheless, they are now being linked with a swap deal involving Los Angeles Kings winger Warren Foegele. Foegele previously played in Edmonton from 2021 to 2024.
Warren Foegele Would Give Edmonton Oilers a Boost in Multiple Areas
GettyWarren Foegele previously performed well with the Edmonton Oilers.
The potential trade may seem to be a bit odd to some, yet multiple reporters have suggested that it could make sense for both teams. The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson and Mark Spector of Sportsnet recently hinted that the move would work.
As the two suggested, both players earn nearly the same amount of money. Foegele has a $3.5 million AAV, while Mangiapane carries a cap hit of $3.6 million AAV. The fellow forwards are also both signed through the 2026-27 season.
On the Oilers side, Foegele has proven to play well in Edmonton. He is struggling so far this season with the Kings, but racked up 41 points north of the border during the 2023-24 campaign. Foegele is also a strong penalty killer, and the Oilers rank 26th in the league while playing a man down.
Oilers Reunion Could Help Forward Regain Form
Foegele’s drop in offensive production this year could be viewed as a fluke. He previously finished third in goals, fifth in points, and first in plus/minus on the Kings just last season. At 29, the veteran is likely not experiencing an age-related decline. A potential reunion with the Oilers could be what he needs to get back on track.
Although Edmonton would likely make the move, the Kings may be a little more hesitant. After all, their recent acquisition of Artemi Panarin has created a logjam of forwards, and GM Ken Holland is looking to ease the situation. Nevertheless, Holland could believe that Mangiapane would benefit from a change of scenery.
Christopher Moore Christopher Moore has been a Heavy.com contributor since 2025. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has published thousands of articles reporting on multiple professional sports. He was previously a sports writer for World Soccer Talk, the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and the Maryland Sports Blog. More about Christopher Moore
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