Flames Top 25 Under 25: #8 – Andrew Mangiapane

#8 – Andrew Mangiapane

Position: Left Wing

Age: 23

Team: Calgary Flames (NHL), Stockton Heat (AHL)

Drafted in 2015, Round 6, Pick 166

Last Year’s Ranking: #11

In his first 18 NHL games, split over 2 seasons and 2 stints, Andrew Mangiapane recorded zero points. For a guy who recorded 210 points in his final 2 years of junior hockey, and over a point per game in the AHL in 2017-18, the lack of offense was confusing. Was he too small to play in the NHL?

With his third NHL call-up in January, and bordering on his last chance, Mangiapane got it all together. He recorded his first NHL assist in his second game back, and started to form a strong 4th line with do-it-all centerman Derek Ryan and banger Garnet Hathaway. Over his last 37 games to end the season, Mangiapane recorded 8 goals and 13 points. Not bad for an undersized rookie playing exclusively 4th line minutes and no powerplay time. In late March, he scored in 3 consecutive games, while also adding an assist.

What the 88-10-21 line brought to the Flames was balanced scoring throughout all 4 lines, something that the bottom 6 had been unable to do all year. Mangiapane also proved he could perform on the biggest stage, scoring the first goal of the Flames lone playoff series against Colorado, and thus recording the Flames only game winning goal.

Currently, he and Matthew Tkachuk are the only Flames without contracts for next season. Mangiapane’s performance certainly has earned him more than the league minimum salary he likely would’ve been offered as an unproven tweener. Look for him to receive a 0.9-1.2 million prove-it contract for the next 1-2 years.

With some winger spots in the middle 6 up for grabs, Mangiapane has a real shot at becoming the more prolific scorer he’s been at every stage of his career.

by Gordie Taylor