{"id":450656,"date":"2026-02-07T21:13:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T21:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/450656\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T21:13:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T21:13:23","slug":"whats-really-going-on-with-andrew-mangiapane-in-edmonton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/450656\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Really Going On With Andrew Mangiapane in Edmonton?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Andrew Mangiapane signed with the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>, I thought he was a sensible pickup. He never drove the bus in Calgary, but he worked, he chipped in, and he didn\u2019t need perfect conditions to be useful. Those are usually the guys who fit without a fuss.<\/p>\n

But fast-forward a bit, and it just hasn\u2019t come together. Not for him, not for the coaches, and certainly not for the bottom six he was supposed to help settle down. And every time I watch him now, I end up wondering: why isn\u2019t any of this sticking?<\/p>\n

In Mangiapane\u2019s First Few Games, He Looked Good<\/p>\n

You look back at his first few games, and he actually looked pretty good\u2014quick on pucks, working hard, doing the little things. Then the mistakes crept in, and suddenly, he\u2019s getting scratched. One bad shift becomes two, and before long, a player like Mangiapane is thinking more than he\u2019s playing. That\u2019s a tough spot for anyone, never mind someone trying to win over a new team.<\/p>\n

Elliotte Friedman brought this up the other day<\/a>, and he wasn\u2019t wrong. The Oilers still haven\u2019t solved the riddle of their bottom six. They\u2019ve been hunting for players who can live in those roles, really settle in, know the job, and not get rattled when something goes sideways. The fact is that in Edmonton, they\u2019re still tinkering, still patching holes, still hoping somebody fits.<\/p>\n

\"\"Pierre LeBrun reports the Edmonton Oilers are still trying to trade Andrew Mangiapane. <\/p>\n

Mangiapane and an Oilers\u2019 Bottom Six that Doesn\u2019t Work<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s where Mangiapane gets stuck. He\u2019s functional, he works, and he\u2019s not afraid of the tough areas. Still, none of that matters when you\u2019re constantly looking over your shoulder. Sit a guy too often, and he stops trusting his own game. Instead of playing, he\u2019s trying not to mess up. Very few players can survive that. Even fewer thrive.<\/p>\n

I honestly don\u2019t know if this is a Mangiapane problem or an Oilers problem. Maybe both. Maybe it\u2019s just one of those awkward fits that never settles, even though on paper it should have.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the thing: the Oilers need someone like him to work. They can\u2019t have a bottom six that feels like a revolving door every other night. At some point, they need players who don\u2019t just blend in\u2014they need players who anchor something.<\/p>\n

Can Mangiapane Grow into a Productive Role in Edmonton?<\/p>\n

If Edmonton can steady things and give him a role he can actually grow into, I think there\u2019s still a player there. A useful one. But the clock is ticking. If this doesn\u2019t sort itself out soon, it\u2019s hard to see how it ends well for either side.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s the Oilers\u2019 mystery of the moment: good player, good opportunity\u2026 yet something\u2019s off. I\u2019m still trying to figure out exactly what.<\/p>\n

Related: Oilers Need Accountability & Chemistry to Make a Playoff Run<\/a><\/p>\n

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