The Calgary Flames have signed 2015 6th round draft pick Andrew Mangiapane to a entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 5-foot-10 left wing is completing a career-year playing for the Barrie Colts of the OHL. There, he’s put up 51 goals and 106 points through 59 games, as the Colts head into the playoffs this weekend. That’s good to have him ranked sixth overall in points.
He was passed up in his first draft eligible year, but found himself getting a late pick from the Flames after he scored 104 points in 68 games last season. In his first draft eligible year he put up just 51 points in 68 games.
Entering last year’s draft, scouts praised his speed and hands, calling him “shifty” and “hard to play against.” He has a strong two-way game on the wing. The biggest knock on him was a lack of physicality and not having a lot of size. We already know that the Flames aren’t scared to take a shot on a smaller player who has the skill necessary to make an impact.
#Flames TV talks to Craig Conroy about Andrew Mangiapane, who just signed an entry-level deal with the team!https://t.co/UcMivwjZNQ
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 23, 2016
After the team drafted Mangiapane in June, general manager Brad Treliving said, “You look at our game as it’s moving along here … There’s an emphasis on skill. We think we checked the boxes.
“We went through the draft wanting to add skill to the lineup. [Mangiapane is] a competitive guy. He does all the skill things; four-on-four, three-on-three, he’s a dangerous player with his speed, real good IQ, can make plays, over 100 points this year, so we think we added some skill there.”
Mangiapane could get some time in the AHL this season should his Colts find themselves a upset early in the OHL postseason.