The Oilers recently signed Andrew Mangiapane in free agency, and he now revealed the exact reason he decided to agree to join the team.
Edmonton Oilers splashed into free agency by inking forward Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year, $7.2 million deal with a $3.6 million average annual cap hit.
The 29-year-old arrives with the Oilers after spending a year with the Washington Capitals and has a defense-first two-way game.
Even though his goal-scoring has taken a step back from his 35-goal breakout season in 2021-22, Mangiapane remains a steady scorer with great defensive sense.
He should fit into the top six with the Oilers and be a contributing force at both ends of the ice. His value across the league hasn't gone unnoticed.
Speaking on 'Oilers NOW' with Bob Stauffer, Mangiapane went on to say that both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl themselves personally called him to help get him signed up with Edmonton, a good gauge of how much the club's brass holds him in esteem.
'There's a lot of emotions and people pulling you this way and that way, wanting you here or there,' Mangiapane said about his free agency experience. 'When you have those two calibre players calling you, you always tend to listen. They're two great players, and I just want to come and be a part of a winning team and a winning culture.'
The Oilers are entering next season slightly differently, having lost Evander Kane, Corey Perry, Connor Brown, and Viktor Arvidsson.
But getting Mangiapane is a bid to replace some of what they've lost and he brings some energy and experience to the fold.
While it's unclear if GM Stan Bowman is done making deals, this acquisition gives the Oilers a good anchor as they look to build on the success of last season and make a third-straight deep playoff run.
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