The Edmonton Oilers emerged victorious in a key free-agent race this offseason, beating out the Toronto Maple Leafs for the signing of talented winger Andrew Mangiapane, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
During an episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman shared that both Edmonton and Toronto were actively pursuing Mangiapane, but the Oilers secured the deal while the Leafs were bogged down by roster constraints. “One reason the Leafs missed out on Mangiapane was that they needed to move some players first, and he wasn’t willing to wait,” Friedman said.
Mangiapane opted to take Edmonton’s standing offer—no doubt influenced by the chance to play alongside elite center Leon Draisaitl. “It doesn’t hurt when Leon Draisaitl is on your line,” Friedman added. Mangiapane later confirmed that both Draisaitl and Connor McDavid personally reached out to him, encouraging the move and helping tip the scales in Edmonton’s favor.
Those calls played a major role in Mangiapane’s choice, leading him to turn down a more lucrative offer elsewhere in favor of a bigger on-ice opportunity as part of the Oilers’ top-six forward group.
Toronto’s Setback After Missing Out
Although Mangiapane is originally from Toronto and has a strong relationship with Leafs GM Brad Treliving, the Oilers offered a more appealing situation. Analyst Nick Kypreos suggested Mangiapane may have been hesitant about the intense media pressure in Toronto, though Edmonton carries its own expectations—especially after reaching the Stanley Cup Final twice without a title.
Known for his gritty, two-way play and offensive ability, Mangiapane is now expected to be a key contributor. The Oilers will count on him to regain the form he showed during his 35-goal season in Calgary and build chemistry with their star forwards.
With the exits of Viktor Arvidsson, Evander Kane, Corey Perry, and Connor Brown, Edmonton was in need of another proven scoring winger—and Mangiapane fits that need.
Meanwhile, Toronto is still looking to add forward depth and remains constrained by salary cap issues. The Leafs were reportedly exploring moves involving players like David Kämpf or Calle Järnkrok but couldn’t clear space in time to land Mangiapane.
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