The Calgary Flames have worked out a deal with restricted free agent forward Andrew Mangiapane.
As the NHL preseason gets underway tomorrow for the Calgary Flames, and with fitness testing already in the rearview mirror, Flames GM Brad Treliving made a very timely signing today. The Flames have inked forward Andrew Mangiapane to a one year, two-way deal worth $715,000. The signing is huge for both the Flames and Mangiapane.
Mangiapane at one year is extremely low risk for the Flames, and the price tag is perfect because it leaves them with $6,341,625 in cap space. That certainly isn’t enough to sign Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk just yet, but Treliving is likely working on a plan to get that sorted out soon.
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For Mangiapane, the one year contract gives him an opportunity to work off of his success he had last season in the NHL and AHL. It also gives him the chance to prove to the Flames that he deserves another contract after this season.
Mangiapane and the Flames certainly waited till the last minute, but essentially, Mangiapane wouldn’t want to miss out on playing because of a contract dispute.
$715,000 was the qualifying offer the Flames had put forward back in June, so Mangiapane certainly wanted a little more. Eric Francis of Sportsnet reported that the ask from Mangiapane was for $850,000, and a one-way deal.
With the Flames being in such a tight cap position though, that just couldn’t happen, and ultimately Brad Treliving wasn’t going to budge. For Mangiapane, he now won’t have to miss out on the preseason, or too much of training camp. According to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet, he is expected to join the team tomorrow for camp, and be back on the ice later in the week.
Mangiapane found himself a solid role on the Flames fourth line last year. In 44 games, he scored eight goals and tallied five assists. He also played in five playoff games with the Flames, where he had one goal.
Mangiapane definitely is a key piece for the Flames moving forward. He may have gotten slightly under what he had asked for, but now he can just go out on the ice, and focus on his game, without worrying about when he’ll sign.