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Flames general Brad Treliving knew the risk.

If he used Calgary’s sixth-round pick (No. 166 overall) in 2015 on someone other than Andrew Mangiapane, a favourite of scout Terry Doran, well…

“I would have got punched,” Treliving said with a laugh on a call with The Athletic.

“(Our scouts) dug in,” Treliving said. “They knew all of the DNA of this kid about how hard he pushes himself, and just the talent. He’s got high-end talent and he’s got a big-time engine that’s going to drive him. The only thing he didn’t do is that the tape measure didn’t stretch out.”

Mangiapane still remembers standing in the parking lot of the Sadlon Arena in Barrie watching his mom, Patricia, arguing with Hawerchuk. She wanted assurance that the opportunity was real.

“My mom was arguing with Dale, basically saying, ‘Are you just taking him to take away his rights from the NCAA?’” Mangiapane said with a laugh. “And he is going, ‘No, no, listen, lady, I like your son, I like how he plays, he’s a good hockey player.’ But it took a little bit of convincing.”

“They didn’t even know what was going on,” Miller added, recalling the parking lot conversation. “They were really nervous because he’s a kid that could have got a full-ride scholarship, no problem. They’re great people, they’re so proud of their boy. But they were adamant, and they wanted to know we were looking after him.”

https://theathletic.com/2890779/2021...ampaign=601983