Oilers rumors: Pierre LeBrun reveals ‘No. 1 priority’ after Connor Murphy trade

The NHL trade deadline is March 6 at 3 pm ET, and teams are already making moves. The Edmonton Oilers have made their next move of the trade season as the Oilers have acquired Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Now, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun is talking about the next move the Oilers need to make after this trade, speaking on TSN’s Early Trading with Gino Reda.

“Number one priority is to find a new home for Andrew Mangiapane, who cleared waivers, of course, it’s going to cost the Oilers to find a new home for him,” LeBrun said. “He’s got another year on his deal at $3.6 million, but they have to move that contract before they can get to really what’s next, which is wanting to go find a top-nine forward, which looks like, in a perfect world, a third-line center.”

Mangiapane joined the Oilers on a two-year deal ahead of the 2025-26 season, after playing one season with the Wahsington Capitals. He has been a consistent 40-point forward with the Calgary Flames before being traded to the Capitals. He scored just 28 points in his lone year with the Caps and has struggled this year. In 52 games, he has just seven goals and seven assists. This led to Mangiapane being placed on waivers.

“First, they got to move out Mangiapane. Now we will see if moving out Mangiapane is part of actually going out and getting that third-line center. You know, one name that’s been out there as a potential fit for the Oilers is that of Nic Roy,” LeBrun added. “I will just say that while I think that is accurate, it’s really more just the fact that Nic Roy of the Leafs is exactly the type of player that would fit what the Oilers are looking for.”

Roy would be a solid third-line center for the Oilers. He is in his first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing in 58 games with five goals and 15 assists.

Regardless, the franchise needs to improve if it wants to make a run to a third straight Stanley Cup Final.  The Oilers are 29-24-8 on the year, which places them fourth in the Pacific Division and currently holds the final wild card spot. They return to the ice on Tuesday, hosting the Ottawa Senators.

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