Quote:
Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache
What was Treliving thinking with Mangiapane in the NHL?
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I will answer that question.
He was thinking that Andrew Mangiapane was the single most productive U22 player in the entire AHL a year ago, so he has earned an opportunity to play at a higher level, as had four of the other five U22 players on other teams to produce at a PPG or better:
Dylan Strome
Daniel Sprong
Jack Roslovic
Mike Amadio
have also received fair opportunities to do so.
He was with consideration of this success thinking that U22 production in the AHL has a steady correlation with future NHL success, so patience should perhaps be exercised rather than knee jerk reactions. Especially in a league where the current best team in the league has employed undersized AHL stars like Tyler Johnson, Yanni Gourde, and Jonathan Marchassault to surprising degrees of success, while the best player in the last decade of NHL has himself been glued to another former AHL star in Jake Guentzal.
Additionally, he was thinking that expectations of anyone playing a 4th line role should be tempered with respect to counting stats as even star NHLers like Joe Thornton, Brad Marchand, and Martin St. Louis were not highly productive in that role.
Further, he was thinking that Mangiapane's previous shooting percentage of zero prior to three games ago would not be a sustainable event given the sheer quality of his shot release, in addition to his knack for getting himself open.
As well, he was thinking that Mangiapane's two-way play has been markedly improving as he has spent time in the NHL, as is typical of players adjusting to the speed of the NHL game, and there is a developmental need for him to play and compete at and against NHL speed.
Finally he was thinking that the rules behind Alan Quine's waiver exemption affected his own flexibility should Quine's play diminish, as losing Quine to waivers would be undesireable.