Evaluating Andrew Mangiapane' NHL time, so far

[bigrangy]

Andrew Mangiapane has spent a non-negligible amount of time in a Flames jersey this season but he hasn't got a lot to show for it.

10 games played
0 points
7 shots

However, his fancies show a pretty good story at 5v5

13.29 iCF/60 (best among bottom 6 guys)
10.49 iFF/60
4.9 iHDCF/60 (2nd among players with 5+ games, behind Monahan
4.7 individual shots/60 (actually pretty low relative to his attempt numbers)

I didn't get the chance to watch all the games he played in, I maybe only caught about 3 or 4 of them.

But judging by the numbers he seems like he's getting to the right places, but maybe is taking a little too long to get his shots away, and he's certainly keeping up to the base NHL skill level.

Truth be told, with how he's dominating the AHL this year (one could argue that he's probably the most impactful forward in the league), I expected a little more. He's still young and has lots of time to grow and I'm optimistic about his future with the team.

What have your assessments of his play been like? Is my just-looking-at-the-numbers analysis accurate?

[dammage79]

For a 6th round pick he has been amazing.

[SportsJunky]

I like Andrew Mangiapane.

[EVERLAST]

Hope he makes a case for himself next year and makes it up here full time.

[Jay Random]

An important stat for context:

Average time on ice, 8:56.

(Average PP time, 0:02.)

This suggests to me that Mangiapane's failure to score any points so far is partly due to usage (mostly 4th line) and partly due to unfamiliarity. He's had very little ice time facing NHL opponents, and I imagine he needs more time to learn how to adjust his game to big-league speed and skill level. I think he probably has the makings of a top-9 NHLer.

[EVERLAST]

nm

[Ozy_Flame]

Not sure what isn't working, perhaps still getting a feel for the game. Jankowski is a good big body who can move the puck with him, so his pivot isn't a problem. Wondering if he's just being expected to play a checking style that doesn't highlight breakout passes. Also, a lack of PP time is probably hurting him. He has 5 PP goals in Stockton this season. Seems like he could be a bit of a threat there if given the opportunity.

[Strange Brew]

He hasn't shown great but I believe these games in the NHL will really help him coming into camp next year. It seems like a great way to break in a young player and help him understand what it takes to be successful in the NHL.

I wish they had done it with Janko last year and Andersson this year.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I worry about his ability to handle the physical play at the NHL level. He's going to need to do the Paul Byron: Learn how to leverage the size and weight he has in the right way to not only survive physical contact, but initiate it and win a puck battle.

He's got all the other aspects of the game relatively figured out. If he can manage the physical play everything else will fall into place.

[GranteedEV]

He's been fine. Very low quality of teammate. Only time he's played in the top nine has been games where Bennett has been bumped up the lineup, and no one is expecting him to do for his line what Bennett does. Stuff generally just happens with him on the ice though. I would like to see a Mangiapane-Jankowski-Shore line.

[Freddy]

I think he’ll be a reliable offensive & defensive 2nd line winger in 2 more seasons. He’s earning the coaches trust by erring on the side of playing too sound defensively and in an expanded role will begin scoring points consistent with his past.

[Rick M.]

He needs to be physically stronger as he’s easily knocked off the puck.

[dino7c]

Potential but not ready

[Toonage]

Kid has jump, a good motor and looks like he has the hands (at least in the AHL). He'll be a regular next season I'm sure and probably shouldn't have been demoted this week as his speed would have come in handy especially last night.

[smiggy77]

Watching him play, the guy can keep the pace & speed and can think the game at an NHL level. It's good he is getting some experience to learn and grow this off season. Getting a bit more strength and confidence at the NHL level, the points will eventually come.

Overall, I think it's been a pretty decent showing.

[Bunk]

Keep marinating Eat Bread and he'll be more ready the next time he comes. Better linemates would help.

[The Eliminator]

FWIW, the Flames are 9-0-0-1 with Mangiapane in the lineup.

I get sending him down to get playing time and to be eligible for the AHL playoffs but he could be playing on the third line here with Ferland hurt.

[Geeoff]

I think you can't have a guy as small as Mangiapane in the line-up unless he actually puts some points on the scoreboard.

If he's gonna stay on the Flames, he's gonna have to start producing in the bottom 6. I understand that our bottom 6 has been a black hole of offense but other teams actually get scoring from more than 2 lines.

[Gaskal]

Probably needs a little while longer to bulk up. Still only 21 years old. I imagine he'll be attacking the weights like a starving man after a buffet table this summer.

But I think he actually need skilled and fast players on his line for him to have any effectiveness offensively in this league. Heck, if Bennett and Ferland both go cold on the top line he's the first one after them I'd try. You certainly won't know what you have in him if you saddle him with the slower vets Stajan and Brouwer.