Head coach Chris Knoblauch announced the changes after the team's morning skate: Kasperi Kapanen should return to the lineup. Kapanen skated on the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin.
It's been a tough first season for Mangiapane after signing a two-year, $7.2 million deal last offseason. The 29-year-old has scored five goals and 11 points in 40 games so far. on the shopping block.
Frederic is in the first season of an eight-year, $30.8 million contract and has struggled to be productive. The 26-year-old has two goals and one assist while averaging 11:06 ice time per game.
“Things didn't work out. And it's not like it's over, but I think we felt they didn't play the way we expected and I think they can give us more,” Knoblauch told reporters. “We have young guys who deserve the opportunity to play.”
Knoblauch says general manager Stan Bowman supports the decision to remove Mangiapane and Frederic from the roster despite their contracts.
The Oilers coach says they are also looking at the long-term prospects of some of their young players they want to see get playing time.
“(Quinn) Hutson was here, obviously he's not here now, but (Isaac) Howard, who's in the lineup, (Curtis) Lazar, who was a bust the last two games, played really well and then came out,” Knoblauch said.
“We have a lot of guys who can play in the bottom six and right now we just want more from those guys and a little reset for those two.”
Oilers area fans can watch the Oilers take on the Predators at 7:00 PM ET/9:00 PM ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
