Victor Mancini

February 2025 – The Canucks acquired Mancini from the New York Rangers in the blockbuster J.T. Miller trade. Mancini split time between the Rangers and Wolf Pack this season. With the NHL on its Four Nations break, Mancini has started his Canucks tenure in Abbotsford. In four games he has fit in nicely and formed a gritty, punishing pair with fellow prospect (the other) Elias Pettersson. He is already a staple on Abbotsford’s penalty kill and uses his big frame to be disruptive in the defensive zone. He is willing to block shots and clear attackers from the front of the net. Mancini also registered an assist against the Colorado Eagles. It’s a bit unclear exactly when, but Mancini will assuredly see time in Vancouver. In the meantime, continuing to play well in Abbotsford is key for Mancini’s success. Nick Orr

November 2024 – Mancini has suited up in nine games this season for the Rangers, posting a goal and three assists, along with a 58.3 GF% (goals for) and a 34.7 CF% (Corsi for).  Though the goals-for percentage is very solid, and although he looked quite good according to the eye test, the Rangers’ brass decided that Mancini needed some additional time to develop with the Wolf Pack in the AHL.  Zac Jones, mysteriously stuck in the seventh defenseman slot for most of the early part of the season, has been a lineup mainstay in recent games, and has looked extremely impressive.  Clearly, the organization doesn’t want either young defenseman sitting in the press box with the NHL club, so the decision was made to send Mancini down to Hartford to play lots of minutes and continue working on his game.  Although he didn’t put up a ton of points in his collegiate or Junior hockey career, Mancini showed some good offensive instincts and can shoot the puck well, signaling that he could be a decent fantasy option whenever he is ready to crack the NHL lineup on a full-time basis.  Brendan Ferry

July 2024 – Mancini, signed in April to a two-year entry-level contract, appeared in seven regular season games at the end of this past season with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL and 10 playoff games. He registered three assists in his seven regular season games and three more assists in the playoffs. Previously, Mancini completed two seasons of NCAA hockey with the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The defenseman already possesses an NHL frame, at 6-3 and 215 pounds. The Rangers organization is clearly impressed with the righty, and it looks like they will provide him with a big role in his first full season of AHL hockey in 2024-25, allowing him to showcase his game and establish himself as the top call-up option on the right side of the defense. The 2024 first-round pick, EJ Emery, is still a couple of years away and does not factor into the equation yet. Brendan Ferry

July 2023 – Mancini wrapped up his second season with the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2022-23, picking up eight points (all assists) in 32 games played. The well-traveled rearguard, having played parts of two seasons with Frolunda’s J18 & J20 teams in Sweden, is now settled into his collegiate career. Mancini, who has also played in the USHL and the USNTDP, will be looking for a big year to leave a strong impression on the Rangers’ scouts and staff. Brendan Ferry

August 2022 – Another Michigan native, like 2022 fourth round pick Noah Laba, Mancini was drafted in the fifth round by the New York Rangers in the 2022 NHL draft as an “overage” player.  Mancini will be playing for the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks during the 2022-2023 campaign, after spending the past few seasons in two countries, in Sweden’s J18 and J20 leagues, as well as the USHL and the NCAA.  He certainly is a well-traveled player.  In 2021-2022, Mancini posted five assists in 38 games played for the Mavericks.  Mancini is property of the Rangers until the summer of 2025. He will need to develop well over these next few seasons in order to work his way up a crowded depth chart in New York.  Brendan Ferry