Former 35-goal scorer Mangiapane among 5 NHL players placed on waivers

The sudden transaction sends immediate shockwaves through the Edmonton locker room and the NHL just days ahead of the highly anticipated NHL trade deadline.

Mangiapane had been floated heavily in trade rumors over the past month, but tossing a proven former 35-goal scorer on the waiver wire outright is a drastic, aggressive measure.

With only 12 points banked across 50 games this season, his overall offensive output has completely vanished under the intense spotlight of Oil Country.

The veteran simply could not match the crisp passing and rapid transition game required to ride shotgun next to Edmonton's elite, high-flying centers.

General manager Stan Bowman is clearly orchestrating a much bigger move behind the scenes, desperate to clear roster spots and maximize flexibility for a deep Stanley Cup playoff push.

Carrying a bloated $3.6 million cap hit through the end of the season, Mangiapane represents a massive financial hurdle for any rival club looking to upgrade their middle six.

Because of that hefty salary structure, the veteran winger is almost guaranteed to clear waivers by Monday afternoon.

Legitimate contenders are entirely strapped against the salary cap, and no general manager wants to inherit that full contract when they could wait for Edmonton to retain money in a subsequent trade.

But the waiver wire chaos extended well beyond Alberta today, featuring another highly notable veteran being cut loose.

Down in Sunrise, head coach Paul Maurice and the defending champion Florida Panthers surprisingly waived gritty forward Luke Kunin to shuffle their own deck.

Unlike the expensive Mangiapane situation, Kunin is a prime candidate to be scooped up by an Eastern Conference rival looking for immediate, cheap sandpaper.

He brings the exact type of heavy, relentless forechecking presence that playoff teams absolutely crave for their penalty kill units and grinding fourth-line deployments.

Also joining the transaction log on a busy Sunday were Alec Regula of the Oilers, Guillaume Brisebois of the Canucks, and veteran Robby Fabbri of the Blues.

League front offices are officially scrambling, and these surprising waiver placements are just the first major domino of what promises to be a highly chaotic trade deadline week.