The Washington Capitals acquired winger Andrew Mangiapane in a deal with the Calgary Flames.
The Capitals sent a 2025 second-round pick the other way in the deal completed on the eve of the NHL draft.
Washington general manager Brian MacLellan said hours earlier that he was looking for a forward via trade or free agency. In Mangiapane, the Capitals are getting a 28-year-old player who can play on the second or third line in the final season of his contract.
Mangiapane is coming off a season in which he scored fourteen goals and provided 26 assists. He has 227 points in 444 regular-season and playoff games, all with the Flames, the only organization he has been a part of as a pro thus far.
It is unclear what Mangiapane’s arrival means for the future of 37-year-old winger TJ Oshie. Due to back problems, he is looking for a sustainable way to continue his hockey career without being in the starting lineup all the time.
“He is still looking for a permanent solution and talking to physicians and our training staff,” MacLellan said. “It’s the beginning of summer, so we’ll see how it plays out towards the end of summer.”
MacLellan sent the pick he received from Colorado for impending free agent Lars Eller at the 2023 deadline to Calgary for Mangiapane.
“Today’s trade provides us with an increase in valuable draft capital and we have continued to emphasize the importance of how upcoming draft picks will impact the future of our franchise,” said Flames GM Craig Conroy. “Additionally, this move gives us more salary cap and roster flexibility to make decisions after July 1.”
The Capitals, who acquired midfielder Pierre-Luc Dubois from Los Angeles in exchange for goalie Darcy Kuemper, still have room to move. MacLellan also mentioned a change in defense.
“We have a little cap space, the cap has gone up and we have draft capital, so it’s easier to make things happen,” MacLellan said.
