The Calgary Flames have reached an agreement with restricted free agent forward Andrew Mangiapane, avoiding arbitration that was scheduled for just a few days from now. The two-year contract will carry an average annual value of $2.425MM. Mangiapane was set to be the first hearing of the arbitration schedule on October 20.
The 24-year-old Mangiapane broke out in 2019-20, finally finding his footing as a full-time NHL player and scoring 17 goals in the process. He was a difference-maker all over the ice and managed to record his 32 points almost entirely at even-strength, in fewer than 14 minutes a night no less.
That kind of production is the stuff that makes you believe a player can take another step if given a bigger chance, and with the new contract Mangiapane will certainly be in the mix for more minutes. Playing in the minor leagues as recently as 2018-19, the sixth-round pick will be a core piece for Calgary this season.
Settling that arbitration case means that the Flames now have just Oliver Kylington left to sign as a restricted free agent, though he wasn’t eligible to file this time around. Calgary has a little more than $77.5MM committed to just 17 players, meaning the rest of the roster will either have to be filled out on cheap deals or someone will be moved out.
He was good but don’t know if he was 2.5 for only 2 years in a down market good
Third line minutes (more or less), decent+ production (especially 5v5 – props to Gavin for rightly emphasizing it) that has been trending up in his short time with the team, and the fact that he’s Beesley’s top fave to announce for goal scorers! And, strangely (or maybe not), PuckPedia has him penciled in on the second line. Either way, a decent deal, all things considered. We haven’t said that very much this off season.
Wouldn’t say strangely seeing he played on that second line pretty much of all last season and the playoffs. In my personal opinion he’s probably playing a line up from where he should be slotted but with their cap restrictions tough to add a top 6 forward. I could see Dube taking a step next year so maybe he ends up there. Mangy is a great 5 on 5 player though. Doesn’t get much PP or PK time for whatever reason.
@tball1661 – The reason I used “strangely” was due to his ATOI, which may suggest 3rd line minutes. And, with Ward-O now free of the “interim” tag and more comfortable as head-honcho, he might get AM some more special teams time, if he shows some promise there. If he keeps handling most of what’s thrown at him, why not? I like to call that the “develop” part of “draft and develop.”
I need to decide if I keep this guy in my cap league!
He was pretty highly touted, and only 24. I would bet he takes another step forward this season.