ANDREW MANGIAPANE’S AGENT REPORTS THAT THEY DID NOT SEE THE TRADE COMING AND DID NOT REQUEST TO BE MOVED
Another piece of the Calgary Flames roster has been shipped to another location in exchange for a draft pick. Andrew Mangiapane was traded from the Flames to the Washington Capitals for a 2025 second-round pick; according to a report from Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, Mangiapane and his agent did not see the trade coming. Most importantly, the player did not request it to happen.
(Editor’s note: Mangiapane is represented by Ritch Winter of Raze Sports.)
While it may not have been the first thing on the Mangiapane camp’s mind as the NHL Awards finish and the NHL Entry Draft happens in the next 24 hours, seeing him moved is unsurprising. Plenty of rumours have been out in the ether suggesting that the 28-year-old winger was likely on his way out before his contract expires at the end of next season, which, for Flames general manager Craig Conroy and his staff, is important to handle sooner rather than later.
Mangiapane is owed $5.8 million next season. While he was a contributor on a line with captain Mikael Backlund and now-30-goal-scorer Blake Coleman that had head coach Ryan Huska’s full trust the entire 82-game season, he was the most expendable piece of the trio, especially considering his contract figures. In 75 games during the 2023-24 regular season, he potted 14 goals and tallied 26 assists for 40 points. It’s the third-highest total of his career to this point, following 43 points in 82 games the season prior and 55 points in 82 games in 2021-22.
Drafted in the sixth round by the Flames in the highly-regarded 2015 NHL Draft, Mangiapane has spent his entire career in Calgary. Over the course of his tenure, he worked his way into the hearts of fans, media, and the coaches that oversaw his play. He’s known as a workhorse and someone who isn’t afraid to throw his body around or hustle in on the forecheck. It’s rather unfortunate that his time in Calgary had to come to an end like this, but that is the state of professional sports and the Flames. Moving assets that are not likely to return in the future is an essential part of stripping a club down and retooling, rebuilding, or whatever other r-word ownership and management want to use.
It’s hard not to be endeared by the person and player Mangiapane was while with the Flames, but the business can be hard to deal with at certain times, and this is one of them. Not being aware of a trade happening while also not requesting one is a gut punch, but an elevated role likely awaits the Breadman in Washington, so he will have the chance to take an opportunity and run with it.
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2024-06-28T18:18:57Z dg43tfdfdgfd