Very Likely Oilers Will Be Able To Trade Forward By Deadline

The Edmonton Oilers have upgrades yet to do. Exactly where those will come remains to be seen, but there's a good chance at least one will come at forward. They are close to the salary cap, so ideally, the Oilers will be able to move out at least one body who hasn't lived up to expectations mixed with poor usage.

Nick Kypreos said, "The Oilers continue to work the market for Andrew Mangiapane and should be able to find a partner by March 6, though the return isn't likely to be anything major."

The most important thing for the Oilers is to free up the salary cap that is attached to Mangiapane so that another move can be made, likely for a top-6 winger or a third line winger okay with that role. That has always been the trouble with the Oilers, finding players who are comfortable in their role as a bottom-6 player and/or second power-play unit player.

The Oilers have their stars and the point producers. Even though Mangiapane has been that in his career at one point, that's not exactly where he is now and didn't fit his role on the Oilers that well. He has a cap hit of $3.6 million AAV for another year after this one. While it may seem like a problem that Mangiapane has a no-trade clause until June 15, he is willing to be moved to get a better opportunity in the lineup. He isn't playing for a contract next year, but if this season is any indication of how next season will go with the Oilers, it won't go too well in finding a lucrative following contract elsewhere if he isn't okay with being traded.

Mangiapane only has six goals and 12 points in 49 games this season and is a -21. The next worst among the forwards is Trent Frederic, who has two goals and three points in 55 games, and he's a -13. Mangiapane is not a bad player and is probably best suited for a third line role, but he also needs a change in scenery and the Oilers need to be better at managing players who play in those types of roles to help them succeed.