So, let’s get this straight.

The Edmonton Oilers are about to face the Boston Bruins tonight on New Year’s Eve, and Andrew Mangiapane — yes, the same Andrew Mangiapane who was a healthy scratch literally one game ago — is now skating on the second line with Leon Draisaitl.

I’m sorry, what?

Look, we’ve all watched Mangiapane get shuffled around this season. At first, it made sense. Everyone was getting moved around as the coaching staff tried to find chemistry. Then it looked like he’d finally settled in as a third-line winger with Adam Henrique. Okay, cool. A defined role. Something to build on.

But then came the healthy scratch. That’s when things got weird. And now tonight, against Boston, he’s been bumped up to play alongside one of the best players in the NHL and his favourite winger, while Matt Savoie drops down to the third line with Jack Roslovic.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m actually a fan of Roslovic at third-line centre. He brings speed and skill, and pairing him with Savoie could genuinely work. Those two might develop some real chemistry. But that’s not the confusing part here.

The confusing part is: what exactly is the plan with Mangiapane?

This is a guy who scored 35 goals with Calgary just two seasons ago. He’s got talent, he’s got experience, and yet the Oilers seem to have no idea what to do with him. One game he’s watching from the press box, the next he’s playing with Leon Draisaitl. That’s not a progression — that’s a cry for help from a coaching staff that can’t figure out where he fits.

And honestly? Can you blame them for being confused? Because they should be. Fans are confused. Mangiapane’s probably confused.

There have been rumblings that he might want out if he can be guaranteed a bigger role elsewhere, but frankly, how realistic is that? Yes, it’s tough to find your game when you don’t know if you’ll be scratched, on the fourth line, or suddenly promoted to play with elite talent. Players need consistency to succeed, and Mangiapane has gotten the opposite in Edmonton. But he’s also been underwhelming since arriving to Edmonton.

He’s not quite the player who can keep up with Connor McDavid and Draisaitl. Fine, few actually can. But in such a case, a bottom-six role should be enough. Or maybe not.

So tonight, as the Oilers host the Bruins to ring in the New Year, keep an eye on that second line. Will Mangiapane click with Draisaitl and prove he belongs in the top six? Or is this just another experiment in a season full of them?

Because right now, it’s genuinely hard to say where Andrew Mangiapane fits on this roster—or if he even has a long-term spot at all.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

RNH-McDavid-Hyman

Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Mangiapane

Janmark-Roslovic-Savoie

Jones-Henrique-Frederic

Ekholm-Bouchard

Nurse-Regula

Stastney-Emberson

Ingram