Where there is smoke, there is usually fire, and right now, the smoke signals coming out of Edmonton and Anaheim are impossible to ignore. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks may be converging on a significant “change of scenery” trade.
The writing is on the wall: The Oilers made Andrew Mangiapane a healthy scratch for the second time in three games, a massive red flag for a player in the first year of a $3.6 million contract. Meanwhile, in Anaheim, former Oiler Ryan Strome has seen his minutes slashed and has also faced the healthy scratch treatment. When two teams simultaneously scratch high-priced veterans, phone calls are definitely happening. Friedman confirms the Ducks have been “poking around” regarding Mangiapane, but can the cap-strapped Oilers actually make the money work for a Strome reunion?
Analyzing the Cap Implications of a Strome-Mangiapane Deal
Here is my take on why this deal is fascinating, but also complicated.
For the Edmonton Oilers, this screams desperation—but perhaps the necessary kind. Mangiapane, at 29, was brought in to provide grit and secondary scoring, but the chemistry just hasn’t materialized in Northern Alberta. With a full no-trade clause (NTC) this season, Mangiapane holds the cards. However, players rarely block trades from situations where they are sitting in the press box. If he wants to play, he will waive for a team like Anaheim where he can log top-six minutes.
The Ducks, pushing for their first playoff berth since 2018, have the cap space to absorb money, which is the key to this entire operation. Ryan Strome carries a $5 million cap hit. The Oilers, as always, are dancing right against the salary cap ceiling. A one-for-one swap works mathematically only if Anaheim retains salary.
If the Ducks retain, say, $1.4 million of Strome’s deal, the money becomes a wash with Mangiapane’s $3.6 million hit.
From a hockey perspective, I like this for Edmonton. Strome had undeniable chemistry with the Oilers’ core during his previous stint. He is a natural center who can play the wing, and his playmaking ability fits McDavid and Draisaitl’s style better than Mangiapane’s straight-line grinding game. For Anaheim, they get a slightly younger winger with a lower cap hit who might rebound with fresh opportunities.
Friedman noted that some clubs are worried about the second year of Mangiapane’s deal, but for a Ducks team looking to add veteran presence without breaking the bank long-term, it’s a calculated risk worth taking.
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