NHL Rumor Mill – December 30, 2025
Are the Oilers planning to trade winger Andrew Mangiapane? Could the Bruins pursue Maple Leafs forward Matias Maccelli? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
OILERS COULD TRY TO MOVE ANDREW MANGIAPANE
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman wondered if Andrew Mangiapane could become the odd man out on the Edmonton Oilers as their roster gets healthier.
Mangiapane, 29, signed a two-year contract with the Oilers on July 1 with an average annual value of $3.6 million. He has 11 points in 39 games, and his playing time has been reduced recently.
Edmonton Oilers winger Andrew Mangiapane (NHL Images).
Meanwhile, Mark Spector cited Friedman saying the Oilers and Mangiapane are exploring a path to move him to another NHL club. He noted that the winger was a healthy scratch for Monday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Spector pointed out that Mangiapane has a full no-trade clause for the remainder of this season. However, Friedman thinks the winger would waive it for a chance to go somewhere where he’ll get more playing time. Given his struggles and his cap hit, however, it might not be easy to move him.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson stated that Mangiapane skated among the Oilers’ top-six forwards during the first two months of this season. However, he’s been unable to regain the form that made him an effective middle-six forward during his tenure with the Calgary Flames.
Matheson believes Kasperi Kapanen would be a suitable replacement for Mangiapane on the third line once he finally returns from his knee injury. He suggested the Jets, Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins as possible trade destinations.
David Staples believes the Oilers’ scratching Mangiapane from Monday’s game against the Jets bodes well for their chances of trading him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Approaching the midseason point of the schedule, there is starting to be some separation between the contenders and pretenders in the tightly packed standings. There has also been a recent increase in trade activity, suggesting that more clubs are willing to make moves than they were through October and November.
Mangiapane’s production was declining during his final two seasons with the Flames. That slide continued last season with the Washington Capitals. Another change of scenery is unlikely to spark a return to his 40-plus form from earlier in his career.
The Flames are transitioning toward younger talent, so it’s unlikely that they’re interested in a reunion with Mangiapane. Ditto the Penguins. The Jets could be an option given their struggles this season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25.
BRUINS INTERESTED IN MATIAS MACCELLI
NESN: Victor Barbosa cited The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, who suggested the Boston Bruins attempt to acquire Matias Maccelli from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Shinzawa believes Maccelli, a 25-year-old left-shot winger, would provide the Bruins with some offensive help among their top-nine forwards.
Barbosa indicated that rumors linked the Bruins to Maccelli earlier this month. He also pointed out that they tried to acquire the winger from the Utah Mammoth before he was shipped to Toronto in an offseason trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maccelli has struggled with the Leafs this season, but his production improved recently. They could hang onto him to see if he can build on that uptick, but could also decide to peddle him while he still has some value. Whether it’ll be to a division rival, such as the Bruins, remains to be seen.
Mangiapane is still an NHLer. Watching him he is normally visible still involved in games and shifts. Definitely a top 9 forward by my eye test.
Unfortunately for Mangiapane he has found no chemistry on in the top 6 and its hard to produce when skating along side the likes of Henrique Janmark and the often invisible Frederic.
While I doubt he ever gets back to Calgary form, he has more to offer than what the Oilers have been able to get out of him.
Boston should pass on Macelli.They should let Steeves opportunity to play out. After watching the WJC and Hagens and Zellers ,they should focus on the next wave of players.
They need to shore up the D that’s the glaring weakness. I agree let the kids play
Agree 100% Sr.
Wow I have not visited this site in a long time and well it has gone down hill… just an observation!
It used to be like 30 to 40 comments on each article now it is like 5 to 11 comments….the ship is sinking…oh dear !!
LOL, there were 30 comments during Monday’s Morning Coffee Headlines, plus comments always go down during the Christmas holidays because folks have other things to do during that time.
FYI, the site’s traffic remains as high as it ever was. Cheers!
Heh. Since he made an inaccurate observation on the site, I’ll make one:
His appearance here is directly related to the fortunes of the Pittsburgh Penguins: if they’re in the dumps and struggling he pulls a David Copperfield and disappears … if they’re on a bit of a winning streak, he magically re-appears.
Fair-weather fan.
Just seems like there were so many more comments and more people and members contributing than now..
just an observation..
I just read the negative response from you…..Part of the reason this site is slipping is well you George always something negative to say….there’s a shocker.
I didn’t even mention the Penguins you did.
First i was delusional that the Penguins were good you said oh this team isn’t good even though i gave many reasons why they are…now I’m a fair weather fan totally bs…pick one George your sounding like Trump can stay on a train of thought.
News flash 1 point out of a playoff spot with a hand on many teams. And Dubas isn’t done.. i have moved away from this George controlled website.
Happy Holidays…
blackngold: Your “observation” about the amount of comments was one thing. The remark about the site being a “sinking ship”, however, was not only false, but snide and uncalled for.
I “control” nothing …. I do, however, feel free to respond or contribute to any of the subject matter/posts. THAT is what the site is all about. Free discourse.
What is annoying is having to click off the numerous ads that cover over the content of every article just to be able to read them. It’s getting old.
What ads are those? I don’t run ads that cover over the content of articles. Please provide screenshots so I can see what you’re referring to. Thanks!
Not sure how to provide screenshots so sent message through site “contact” to make connection and can sent through email from there?
Blackngold we are bigger and better than ever
Sounds good! Howard
I thought you “moved on.” Just don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out.
Not sure how to provide screenshots so sent message through site “contact” to make connection and can sent through email from there?
Yes, or send to spectorshockey@gmail.com.
Black N gold according to George I’m a magician like David Copperfield I disappear when convenient.. OK your thoughts cool
George according to Black N Gold is an endless rambler positing 3’4 of comments on this site negative/condescending/ and can’t hold a train of thought fair point
Now you’re talking to yourself. See a shrink.
Or did we forget to enter the name of our other persona? Oh dear …
Ok Gramps…..
I know you’ll beat me up heard that from you before…one of the reasons this site is in a dictatorship…I think years back you said you would send me to the dentist chair if i recall….classic !
Simple observation wasn’t criticizing this site it just used to be buzzing all the time doesn’t seem the same right now..
You are one of the reasons i don’t frequent here anymore.(i’m sure your happy about that) iI respect all the others on here and even you to some extend but your negative all the time and anytime someone disagrees with you bro.
You get personal when someone or me disagrees with you isn’t what this site is about debate?
I’m sure you’ll fire back with something mean I hope not
“one of the reasons this site is in a dictatorship” If this site were “a dictatorship”, your post wouldn’t be here…🙄🙄
“Simple observation wasn’t criticizing this site it just used to be buzzing all the time doesn’t seem the same right now..” The site is the same as it always has been. As I said before, offering up your opinion about the number of comments on this site is one thing, though you didn’t really provide any evidence to support that claim, especially after I pointed that out. The issue I had was that you referred to the site as a “sinking ship”, a claim that was not only false, but snide.
If you have an issue with someone who disagrees with you, take it up with them directly, or just ignore them. If you can’t do that, and if that’s the reason why you don’t come to this site anymore, that’s your issue, not mine or anyone else’s. It’s your decision. If you find you don’t like posting here anymore, or visiting the site anymore, then don’t. Nobody’s forcing you to come here.
Cheers.
“Gramps” ? What are you? 12? What a knob.