As Oilers get healthy, could Andrew Mangiapane be the odd man out?

Andrew Mangiapane's return to Alberta hasn't gone exactly as planned in his first year in Edmonton, and it could be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

After suiting up for less than 11 minutes in three of his last four games, the 29-year-old forward has found himself at the centre of trade rumours should the Oilers want to free up space for a team suddenly becoming healthy.

"A lot of this is being led by the fact that Edmonton is finally getting healthy and (Ike) Howard and (Quinn)Hutson are lighting it up (in the AHL)," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said in the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, "and in that situation, there's gonna be guys who have to sit, there's gonna be less time for other guys, and I think Mangiapane is one of those who could potentially be moved to open up spots. We'll see how it plays out."

Mangiapane joined the Oilers in the off-season as a free agent on a two-year, $7.2 million contract, with the potential for a top-six role on the flank of either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.

Despite registering a point in each of the first three games of the season, his production quickly dropped, going without a point in 14 of the Oilers' next 17 games and seeing his role rapidly diminish as the Oilers tried to find form.

On the season, the Toronto, Ont., native has five goals and six assists in 39 games and is averaging only 13:31 of ice-time a night. He's also spent most nights skating alongside Adam Henrique and Curtis Lazar on the fourth line.

His sudden shift down the lineup has coincided with surges from Hutson and Howard in AHL Bakersfield, and a return to health for Edmonton, as players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Mattias Janmark and Jack Roslovic make their return to the lineup.

"All of a sudden, they are about to get healthy. And not only that, but people who have been watching the American Hockey League ... say that Isaac Howard and Quinn Hutson have extremely good down there," Friedman said. "And while the Oilers have been like, 'Hey, that's excellent. These guys have been getting experience and they're getting confidence,'sooner or later, they're gonna wanna give one or both — probably both — of them another shot in the NHL. So we're in a situation where there's gonna be some extra bodies."

Trading away Mangiapane — who may be frustrated in his smaller role and in need of some new scenery shortly after signing — wouldn't be without precedent. The Seattle Kraken dealt away forward Mason Marchment to the Columbus Blue Jackets in December and are 4-0 since, and the Los Angeles Kings sent Phillip Danault home to the Montreal Canadiens.

According to Friedman, those deals were made because both parties — the player and the team — came to an understanding that it "wasn't working out and you try to move on and find a better situation."

"I don't think it's a hard and fast trade demand or anything like that, but I think there's just a realization — like Danault, like Marchment — that it just wasn't working in that spot and if another situation can be found, I think Mangiapane would be willing to look at it."

However, a potential move for Mangiapane is hindered by a no-trade clause, which remains in effect until mid-June.

Should the Oilers wish to move on from him, the winger will have to waive the no-trade and agree to a deal. But Friedman explains that it may not be too big a roadblock for Edmonton to overcome.

"But I think there is an understanding there that if the Oilers can find something for Mangiapane with another team where he might have a bigger role, he would be willing to waive in that situation," he said.