One thing I’ve really enjoyed from the last 10 years or so (and the reason I’m excited by the current phase of the team) is watching draft picks with low expectations blossom into a lot more than we ever hoped. With 1st rounders, there’s an expectation, but after that it’s more and more random.
I remember a video of Mangiapane, I think it was a development camp, Andersson was there too, and it was something around who could cook the best or something. Anyway, it’s cool to see both those guys go from rookies just getting their first taste of camp to real NHLers, and having done so with the Flames, and it’s cool having been here to follow each step of the progress. I think players get a few years into their career, and people forget how fun it was just to watch them get there.
You don’t know when you’re watching those fluff videos (like the horse riding one last year) that you’re watching players that are going to be meaningful contributors to the team for their prime years. You hope, but you don’t know (and you certainly don’t know who).
Anyways, all that to say for a 6th round pick that makes a mean Chicken Parm, Mangiapane completely blew expectations out of the water and was a great Flame. Was happy to cheer for him, even if it was time to go.
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