Victor Mancini's Wild Season Ends In Grand Fashion

It’s been a wild year for Victor Mancini, but he capped it off in grand fashion, winning the Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks. 

Mancini came into New York Rangers training camp with a vengeance. 

The 2022 fifth-round pick had no business making the Rangers’ opening-night roster. However, he made such a strong impression during training camp that he forced the Rangers’ hand in a way and made the team’s opening-night roster, defying all the odds. 

Despite his stint with the New York Rangers not lasting very long before he was sent down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of The American Hockey League, Mancini showed promise. 

The 23-year-old was still developing and the overwhelming thought was that he could be a staple on the Rangers’ blueline for years to come. 

Not only did Mancini possess the skill, but he conducted himself in a professional manner and seemed to be mature beyond his years. 

When everything was going well for Mancini, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31 in a blockbuster trade involving J.T. Miller. 

Instead of letting the trade tear him down, Mancini looked at it in a positive light and actually used it as a confidence booster. 

“Just for me it felt like I was wanted in the Canucks organization, so that really made me feel at ease,” Mancini said. “You kind of go from this sense of unease to like comfort, almost an excitement.”

Mancini ended up playing a total of 16 games for the Canucks as he continued to flash his potential and prove that he could be a reliable NHL defenseman. 

It was already a long season for Mancini. He’d gone through a ton of emotions from making the Rangers’ opening-night roster, to being sent down to the AHL, to getting traded and moving to an entirely different country. 

To make matters more interesting, Mancini’s wild season was extended since he joined the Abbotsford Canucks for the AHL Playoffs in their pursuit of the Calder Cup. 

He played in 24 playoff games, recording three goals, five assists, and eight points. Mancini’s steady presence helped Abbotsford capture the Calder Cup.

Not only did Mancini gain valuable playoff experience, but he went through what it takes to become a champion even if it wasn’t in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

One thing is clear after the 2025-26 season; the future is bright for Mancini.