Consider Andrew Mangiapane, whose hockey career has been inextricably linked to chasing Connor McDavid on the ice, from the GTHL to the famed Battle of Alberta.
Now, finally, Mangiapane finds himself not only on McDavid`s team but also on his line. Following a less successful season in Washington and six years with the Calgary Flames, Mangiapane has brought his assertive playing style to Northern Alberta.
It seems the adage `if you can`t beat them, join them` holds true.
“I always had to shadow him, even at that young age,” he shared. “I was the guy trying to keep up with him. It`s funny, now you`re on the same team.”
On Thursday, Mangiapane took to the ice in an Oilers practice jersey for the first day of training camp, admitting the sight in the mirror felt unusual to him.
“Yes, it`s a bit strange,” he admitted, joining his third NHL team in an attempt to rekindle his career after an average season with the Capitals. “One of the main reasons I wanted to come here was that they genuinely wanted me. They knew what I could do and how I could play, and they pushed hard for me.”
“They truly made me feel welcome even before I signed the deal.”
Before signing his free-agent contract with the Oilers, Mangiapane spoke with several team members, including Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse, whom he previously considered his primary on-ice antagonists during his time with the Flames.
“I`m sure they hated me on the ice before,” he chuckled. “But I think everyone understands it`s just a game, and emotions can run high during a match. That doesn`t make anyone a bad person, though.”
His life is now fully intertwined with Edmonton, especially since his first child, son A.J., was born there on August 7.
Mangiapane signed a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.6 million. The Oilers expect both his signature gritty play and offensive production, befitting a top-six winger.
“I never played with him, only against him,” McDavid remarked. “He was always that annoying opponent on the other side of the rink, and it`s nice to have him on our team now.”
“But he`s much more than that. He`s a guy who scored 35 goals in a season, plays with an edge, is fast, and wins most battles. He possesses many qualities I look for in a winger. I`m looking to build effective chemistry with him.”
With Corey Perry now with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton has lost its agitator. Unlike Perry, who, as a rare exception, embraced this role in Edmonton, players typically try to distance themselves from such a persona as they establish themselves in the league.
“There`s definitely a fine line,” Mangiapane, wiser at 29, observed. “I feel like sometimes, when I was in Calgary, I might have gone too far. You take an unnecessary penalty, and you don`t want to let your team down by being shorthanded.”
“But penalties are an inevitable part of the job, right? And I believe it helps me unleash my full game. Perhaps I perform better when I play with a bit of an angry edge.”
While Mangiapane had a 35-goal season with the Flames, his overall statistics suggest he`s typically a 20-goal, 40-point player on average. Over the past two years, he scored only 14 goals annually, and last season with the Capitals, he recorded a disappointing 28 points, marking his career low in a full NHL season.
“This is a great opportunity (for a rebound),” he commented on his new role with the Oilers. “That`s exactly why I came here. You want to win, perform well in the playoffs, and go on a deep run. I`ve never achieved that, and I really want to experience those feelings.”
Silky Selke
On Thursday, Leon Draisaitl reached out to Anze Kopitar after the Los Angeles Kings legend announced that the current season would be his last in the NHL.
The Slovenian forward has long been considered the Western Conference`s equivalent of Patrice Bergeron—a mantle Draisaitl clearly aspires to inherit.
“Kopitar was always my idol growing up. I learned an incredible amount playing against him and watching his game,” Draisaitl stated on Friday. “I had the privilege of playing with him at the 2016 World Cup, where he took me under his wing. We’ve maintained a very warm friendship ever since.”
Kopitar`s exceptional two-way game has always been his hallmark.
“His play is the benchmark, the best you`ll ever see,” Draisaitl said. “It`s his consistency that`s so striking. He`s done it for a long time—every game, every day. It took me a while to get to that level, but now I feel like I`m playing the same way.”
Last year, Draisaitl was the only NHL player to achieve 50 goals and 100 points, and over the past five seasons, he ranks second in the league in both goals (231) and points (534). Now, he aims to establish himself as an outstanding defensive forward—the final objective in a career that will undoubtedly culminate in a Hall of Fame induction.
“I`d like to be in the Selke Trophy conversation by the end of this season,” he stated on Friday, when asked about his goals. “A lot goes into that, and there are many aspects where I can learn and improve. But I also believe I already do many things well.”