Andrew Mangiapane Believes He Can Thrive as a Top-Six Scorer and Deliver Big Offense for the Edmonton Oilers

When Andrew Mangiapane speaks about his game, he does so with quiet confidence—never boastful, always grounded in the work he’s put in. And now, as he steps into a fresh chapter with the Edmonton Oilers, that belief is louder than ever. Mangiapane isn’t just hoping to be a productive piece in Edmonton’s lineup—he believes he belongs in a top-six scoring role, and that he can be a major difference-maker for a team chasing the Stanley Cup.

The Oilers, fresh off another deep playoff run, are looking for the missing links that can push them over the top. While the headlines almost always revolve around Connor McDavid’s brilliance or Leon Draisaitl’s dominant presence, every championship team needs those glue players—the ones who elevate when the lights are brightest, who can take the offensive pressure off the superstars without missing a beat. Enter Mangiapane, a player who has shown flashes of high-end offensive upside and who believes he’s ready to make that a full-time reality in Edmonton.

After being acquired this offseason from the Calgary Flames, the 28-year-old forward finds himself in an ideal position—surrounded by elite talent, immersed in a culture of accountability and urgency, and driven by a desire to finally hoist the Stanley Cup. More importantly, he feels like this is the right time for him to seize a top-six opportunity, not just for a stretch, but for the long haul.

“Being around these guys, you can feel the energy, the expectation,” Mangiapane said following a team skate at Rogers Place. “It’s a team that’s hungry. That’s how I feel about my own game, too. I know I can bring offense, be responsible defensively, and help this group win.”

It’s easy to forget that just a couple of years ago, Mangiapane was on a scoring tear with Calgary, notching 35 goals during the 2021-22 season. That breakout campaign turned heads across the league and stamped his name among the NHL’s most intriguing middle-six wingers. But in the years that followed, inconsistency and changing roles dulled his shine a bit. He still posted respectable numbers—his work ethic, puck hounding, and tenacity never wavered—but the offensive explosion didn’t fully repeat itself.

Still, Edmonton believes the upside is very much still there.

“He’s got a motor that doesn’t quit,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “He’s the type of guy who makes things happen with his speed, his forechecking, and his shot. And when you put a player like that next to the type of centers we have here, it opens up a lot of potential.”

That’s the Oilers’ bet: that Mangiapane, when given consistent top-six minutes alongside playmakers like Draisaitl or McDavid, can reignite that 30-goal form—and then some. Early indications from training camp suggest he may slot in on the left wing of the second line, potentially flanking Draisaitl, with Dylan Holloway or Ryan McLeod filling the right side. That kind of line brings balance, speed, and enough two-way intelligence to allow the stars to shine without sacrificing structure.

But Mangiapane isn’t just along for the ride. He wants to be a factor—someone who can generate offense on his own, contribute on the power play, and be a reliable presence in the toughest minutes.

“Every time I get on the ice, I want to prove that I can be the guy,” he said. “Not just someone filling a spot. I want to be trusted when the game’s on the line.”

That attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed in the locker room, either. Veteran Oilers forward Zach Hyman praised Mangiapane’s tenacity and self-belief, noting that “he’s got that chip on his shoulder. He’s not afraid to go to the dirty areas. You need guys like that in your top six, especially when the playoffs come.”

It’s that “chip” that has defined much of Mangiapane’s career. Undrafted and undersized at just 5-foot-10, he’s had to prove people wrong at every level. From junior hockey to the AHL and then the NHL, he’s carved out his role through determination and skill, not hype or privilege. That path has shaped a player who never takes a shift off and who treats every game like a proving ground.

Now, with Edmonton, he may have found the ideal platform to let that underdog fire burn even brighter.

“It’s an exciting challenge,” Mangiapane admitted. “There’s a lot of talent here, and I want to add to it—not take anything away. That’s why I’m here. I believe I can bring scoring, energy, and be a guy this team can rely on.”

There’s certainly a precedent for this kind of late-blooming success story in Edmonton. Zach Hyman, for instance, found new life and new levels of offensive productivity after joining the Oilers. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, once viewed as merely a supplementary piece, posted career-highs when asked to carry more of the scoring load. Mangiapane could follow that blueprint, especially with the kind of talent Edmonton surrounds him with.

What sets Mangiapane apart isn’t just the goals—though those are welcome—but his ability to tilt the ice. His puck retrieval skills, relentless board play, and knack for winning battles all contribute to sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Those traits make him more than just a scorer; they make him a driver.

“He brings pace and pressure,” said assistant coach Glen Gulutzan, who previously coached Mangiapane in Calgary. “When he’s on his game, the other team doesn’t get a break. That’s contagious, and it complements the stars we have.”

Off the ice, Mangiapane has also embraced the new surroundings. He joked that the Battle of Alberta will feel different now that he’s swapped sides, but he also acknowledged how special it is to be part of a Canadian hockey hotbed where every shift is magnified and every game feels like a playoff.

“There’s a buzz around the Oilers,” he said. “When you’re in this locker room, you feel it. It makes you want to elevate your game.”

That’s exactly what he plans to do. He’s training harder than ever, spending extra time after practices working on his shot and chemistry with linemates. The coaching staff has taken notice of his preparation, and so have the fans, many of whom are already penciling him in as a breakout candidate.

Whether or not Mangiapane becomes a 30-goal scorer again remains to be seen. But what seems certain is that he’ll be given every chance to succeed in Edmonton. And if he delivers on his belief in himself, the Oilers will have added a major piece to an already dangerous roster.

“I know what I’m capable of,” Mangiapane said. “Now it’s just about going out there every night and showing it.”

As the new season approaches, the Oilers are betting on that confidence—on the idea that Andrew Mangiapane isn’t just another body in the lineup, but a hungry, skilled forward who’s ready to leave his mark in Edmonton. And if he does? The Oilers might finally have found the final spark they need to light their path to the Cup.