Former New York Rangers defenseman Victor Mancini has had a wild ride after being traded by the team that drafted him. His year ended on a high-note in Abbotsford, as the now Vancouver Canucks prospect, won an Calder Cup in the AHL.![Victor Mancini]()
Former Rangers defenseman Victor Mancini has been through a whirlwind of a year. He was a part of the trade which sent JT Miller back to New York, and has joined the Vancouver Canucks, as a prospect.
He'd soon find himself in the AHL under the leadership of Head Coach Manny Malhotra.
He began the season with a purpose: to make the Rangers roster. He'd put up his best fight and find himself competing for minutes with other Rangers players and made the opening-night roster.
Afterwards, he'd find himself back in the AHL after a hard-fought victory, earning a spot in the lineup despite how short the stint was.
The Rangers thought he'd be one of the team's best defensemen in the future, as he maturely went about his business. Just as things seemed to be coming together for Mancini, it appeared that Patrik Allvin had other ideas.
As the Rangers and the Canucks combined for a trade which sent him, Filip Chytil, and 1st-round pick to the Canucks. The Rangers would receive JT Miller and defenseman Jackson Dorrington in return.
Instead of letting it get the best of him, he'd reframe the trade in a light that suited his perspective:
«Just for me it felt like I was wanted in the Canucks organization, so that really made me feel at ease,» Mancini said. «You kind of go from this sense of unease to like comfort, almost an excitement.»
He'd play a total of 16 games for the Canucks and continues to prove himself a reliable defenseman in the NHL. But just like New York, the team would find use for him in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks.
He'd join the team in the hunt for the Calder Cup in the playoffs and would play 24 total games, adding 8 points (3-5), helping the team secure the hardware.
Mancini ended the year as a champion, instead of viewing himself just as a trade-chip, and can build upon that in the future.
