Victor Mancini

Victor Mancini
Born	(2002-05-26) May 26, 2002 (age 22) Hancock, Michigan, U.S.
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
NHL team (P) Cur. team	New York Rangers Hartford Wolf Pack  (AHL)
NHL draft	159th overall, 2022 New York Rangers
Playing career	2021–present

Vittorio Mancini (born May 26, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Mancini played in Sweden for the Frölunda HC junior teams in the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, serving as the team captain the 2nd year. ^{[1] [2]} After a stint with the Sioux Falls Stampede and Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL he then played college hockey for the University of Nebraska-Omaha for the 2021–22 through 2023–24 seasons. ^{[1] [3] [4]} Mancini went undrafted in his first two years of draft eligibility, but while at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Mancini was drafted by the Rangers in the 5th round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. ^{[2] [3] [5] [6]}

Mancini signed a professional contract with the Rangers in April 2024. ^[3] He played 7 games for the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack at the end of the 2023–24 AHL season, collecting 3 assists. ^[7] He added 3 assists in 10 playoff games with Hartford. ^{[7] [8]}

Mancini had a strong training camp for the Rangers in the fall of 2024. ^{[9] [10] [11]} That, along with his ability to play on the left side despite being a right-handed shot, gave Mancini an opportunity to earn a spot on the Rangers opening night roster for the 2024–25 season after an injury to Rangers' regular left defenseman Ryan Lindgren. ^{[9] [10]} Mancini was demoted to Hartford along with several other waiver-exempt players two days before the start of the regular season in a move to save salary cap space, but was recalled to the Rangers prior to their opening game. ^{[12] [13] [14]} He made his NHL debut in the Rangers opening night game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 9, 2024. He scored his first NHL goal against his home state team Detroit Red Wings on October 17, 2024. ^[15]

Playing style

Upon being drafted, Mancini's main attributes were his strength and physicality. ^[2] According to hockey scout Jess Rubenstein, Mancini is "the prototype stay-at-home defenseman, with excellent on-ice vision. He's more a passer than a scorer but his offense is coming around. His game is a lot like Marc Staal's when Marc was a Ranger." ^[16]

Mancini described his game as follows:

It’s a two-way defenseman. It starts in the defensive zone. I take pride in shutting plays down, playing a tough, physical game. But being able to win pucks and then I feel like my vision is a strong part of my game. So using my vision to break out my team and kind of starting the offense in our defensive zone, getting the puck into the forward’s hands and on the offensive side, being able to join that second layer and find open areas. ^[9]

Early in the 2024-25 season Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said of why he was keeping Mancini on the team, despite Lindgren's return:

A little bit of everything to be honest, it’s his skating, it’s his size, it’s his poise with the puck. He plays a physical game inside of his own elements. He’s big and he’s hard to play against. He does the right things with the puck. He’s very coachable as well. I think he’s had a really strong start to the season. ^[17]

Personal life

Mancini's father Bob Mancini served as the head coach of several college hockey teams, including Ferris State University and Michigan Tech, and also helped found USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, and served as a scout for the NHL Edmonton Oilers. His mother’s name is Laura. ^{[5] [18]}

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2018–19	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Sioux Falls Stampede	USHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Frölunda HC	J20		38	9	5	14	24		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Frölunda HC	J20		19	5	5	10	10		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Hanhals IF	Div.1		5	1	0	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL		33	4	9	13	12		2	0	0	0	0
2021–22	U. of Nebraska Omaha	NCHC		38	0	5	5	26		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	U. of Nebraska Omaha	NCHC		32	0	8	8	10		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	U. of Nebraska Omaha	NCHC		40	4	6	10	8		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		7	0	3	3	4		10	0	3	3	6
AHL totals				7	0	3	3	4		10	0	3	3	6

References

1. Staple, Arthur; Baugh, Peter (September 17, 2024). "What we saw at Rangers development camp: 4 under-the-radar prospects to watch". The Athletic. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
2. Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (July 9, 2022). "Analysis of every Rangers draft pick". Herald-News. pp. 1S, 3S. Retrieved 2024-10-19– via newspapers.com.
3. Radonis, Jake (April 2, 2024). "Rangers Sign Defenseman Victor Mancini to Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
4. Patterson, Mike (November 9, 2023). "Victor Mancini's first goal for Omaha hockey was 'better late than never'". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
5. Raffel, John (July 12, 2022). "Former Ferris hockey coach's son drafted by New York Rangers". Pioneer. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
6. Mercogliano, Vincent (October 9, 2024). "24 thoughts: One for every player who made NY Rangers' 2024-25 roster". Lohud. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
7. "Victor Mancini". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
8. Flanigan, John (September 26, 2024). "Rangers rookie Victor Mancini 'in the mix' for roster spot after Ryan Lindgren's injury". SNY. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
9. Walker, Mollie (September 26, 2024). "Rangers defenseman Victor Mancini turning heads during preseason". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
10. Mastey, Remy (October 7, 2024). "There Is A Growing Sense That Victor Mancini Will Make Rangers' Opening Night Roster". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
11. Stephenson, Colin (September 26, 2024). "Rangers rookie Mancini puts himself on radar in camp". Newsday. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
12. "Rangers' Victor Mancini: Sent down to minors". CBS Sports. October 7, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
13. Mastey, Remy (October 8, 2024). "Adam Edström, Matt Rempe, Victor Mancini Earn Opening Night Roster Spot With Rangers". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
14. Walker, Mollie (October 9, 2024). "Rookies Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom and Victor Mancini on Rangers' opening roster". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
15. Walker, Mollie (October 17, 2024). "Artemi Panarin notches hat trick to pace Rangers' dominant win over Red Wings". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
16. Fischler, Stan (September 9, 2024). "Rangers 'Secret Weapon' Is Coming To Training Camp". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
17. Mastey, Remy (October 24, 2024). "Victor Mancini Earns Permanent Spot With Rangers". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
18. "Robert Mancini". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2024-10-08.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database
• Victor Mancini profile and statistics at TheAHL.com
• Victor Mancini at the Hartford Wolf Pack