Boston Bruins trade chatter and Andrew Mangiapane rumors feel louder after that Edmonton win.
Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers finally stopped the bleeding for the Bruins, snapping a six-game skid that had Boston sliding in the standings.
The reset helped, but the bigger question is how they add scoring without breaking the room.
One obvious route is a middle-six winger with pop, and Andrew Mangiapane keeps showing up in that bucket.
Elliotte Friedman noted on 32 Thoughts that Mangiapane could be open to waiving his trade protection if it leads to a bigger role.
Boston Bruins eye Andrew Mangiapane buy low
As a fan, I get why this one grabs people, because it's the classic Bruins bet on a hard-skating winger who can finish when things tighten up.
The numbers this season are rough for Mangiapane scoring just five goals and 11 points in 39 games, and he's been searching for chemistry in Edmonton's mix.
Still, a change of scenery and a different role could be all he needs to find his game again.
The track record is why you even consider it. Mangiapane hit 35 goals and 55 points with the Calgary Flames in 2021-22, and last season with the Washington Capitals, he scored 14 goals in 81 games.
He also isn't a pure rental, which matters if Boston wants more than a short-term patch. He signed a two-year deal with a $3.6 million cap hit, so you'd be buying runway through 2026-27.
If the price stays reasonable, this is the kind of swing that can actually fit a retooling Bruins roster.