Andrew Mangiapane trade rumors (Getty Images)

Oilers attempt to send $7.2 million forward falls through became one of the first real signs that trade season in the NHL has fully awakened again. The Edmonton Oilers returned from the Olympic break knowing their position is strong but far from safe. Sitting second in the Pacific Division looks good on paper. The reality feels less comfortable. Three straight losses before the pause tightened the race and sharpened the urgency inside the front office.There is little appetite in Edmonton to stand still. Teams like the Seattle Kraken and Anaheim Ducks are close enough to make things uncomfortable, and the March 6 deadline leaves little time to adjust. This is the window where contenders act with purpose. The Oilers tried to do exactly that. But one of their early moves never got past the discussion stage.

Oilers left scrambling after failed attempt to dump $7.2 million contract in collapsed Maple Leafs deal

The player at the center of those talks was Andrew Mangiapane, whose first season in Edmonton has not gone the way either side imagined. According to insider Nick Kypreos, the Oilers explored sending him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Matias Maccelli. The interest, however, was not mutual.“The Oilers were prepared to send Mangiapane to Toronto for Matias Maccelli, but the feeling is the Leafs weren’t too interested in it,” Kypreos said.Toronto’s hesitation makes sense when viewed through its own uncertain season. With their place in the standings still unsettled, committing to a player with term and salary is not a simple decision. Waiting offers clarity. Acting too soon can create regret.For Edmonton, the motivation ran deeper than performance alone. Flexibility matters this time of year, and Mangiapane’s contract carries weight.“The Oilers would be looking to trade Mangiapane just for the extra cap space his departure would create, so we shouldn’t expect the return to be much,” Kypreos added.Signed to a two year deal worth $7.2 million last summer, Mangiapane has struggled to find steady footing. He has been a healthy scratch seven times. His average ice time sits at 12 minutes and 42 seconds. Through 49 games, he has just six goals and 12 points. Those numbers fall short of expectations for a player counted on to strengthen the middle of the lineup.“It just hasn’t worked out between the Oilers and Mangiapane,” Kypreos said. “And it’s not believed that his no trade clause would get in the way of much, as he also would like to try it somewhere else.”That last detail matters. Players sense when a fit is off. Teams do too. Around the league, there is belief that Mangiapane would cooperate if a fresh opportunity appears.For now, nothing has changed officially. But the attempt itself revealed Edmonton’s mindset. They are preparing. Watching. Waiting for the right opening. And with the deadline approaching quickly, this may only be the beginning.