‘Make every rep count’: Mancini taking Canucks brass’ words as fuel to become everyday NHLer
The Vancouver Canucks had a difficult decision on their hands when evaluating their blueline.
The organization had already identified its top four: Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson, and Tyler Myers. However, the bottom pairing was mostly up for grabs. After re-signing Derek Forbort this offseason for his work on the penalty kill, it seemed as though he would operate as the Canucks’ fifth defenceman.
That leaves two spots open for four defencemen: Elias Pettersson, PO Joseph, Tom Willander and Victor Mancini.
Unfortunately for the latter two, they were the final cuts before the Canucks announced their opening night roster. It was expected that Willander, a 20-year-old defenceman with zero NHL experience, would begin the year in Abbotsford. However, Mancini was one of the few players who stood out in training camp and preseason.
“I felt it went good,” Mancini noted about his preseason performance. “I was happy both in the games and the practices. I think it was great to have those two goals, but even if you take those goals away, I was still very happy with how things went. And, you know, me personally, I didn’t want to look back on the preseason and training camp and feel like, ‘Oh, I could have done this better; I could have done that better.’ So just with my play during those few weeks, I was very happy with how it went.”
While it was disappointing for Mancini to learn the news of him not making the opening night roster, he was quickly summoned back up after PO Joseph was placed on injured reserve. The 6’3″ defenceman shared that he’s just trying to be of use and help the team in any way he can, because he’s in a position where he needs to always stay prepared, as you never know when your next opportunity will come.
Instead of using his demotion as a negative, Mancini said it was a confidence booster to be the first call-up option for the Vancouver blueline. However, the 23-year-old wants to prove he can make the team and become an everyday NHL player. So what does Mancini think he needs to do to become an NHL regular, and how will he demonstrate that to his coaches if he does get an opportunity during this call-up stint?
“I think for me, it’s all about the process,” Mancini stated. “Making sure I come to the rink with a smile on my face every day, and I’m doing all the things in order to get better; watching video, listening to the coaches, figuring out how to go about every day, analyze each day and find what I need to improve on.
“Really, just play to my strengths. First of all, I want to gain the trust of the coaching staff, especially in the defensive zone with the puck in my hands. Then next just playing to my strengths; use my speed, my size, I think my hockey sense is a big part of my game. So being able to rely on those and make plays, make breakouts, I think, is really big.”
While he may not have made the opening night roster, both Adam Foote and Patrik Allvin left Mancini with some encouraging words after his strong preseason, outlining what they want to see from him to earn playing time in the NHL.
“Yeah, coach and I had some good talks. I had a good talk with Allvin, too. Just making every rep count. Every rep I get in a game in the NHL, in practice, in breakouts and puck retrievals, right? You know, keep on getting used to those NHL forechecks and how fast things happen, and making sure that my decision making is fast and my head’s up and I’m making good reads.”
Mancini will likely serve as the seventh defenceman in Thursday’s season opener against the Calgary Flames. But the right-shot defenceman is using his strong preseason and Canucks brass’ words as fuel to one day soon become an NHL regular.
Seahawks 'paying very close attention' to teams for potential trade markets
The Seattle Seahawks lost a thriller to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday and are now 3-2. With the San Francisco 49ers atop the NFC West at 4-1, and the Los Angeles Rams tied with Seattle at 3-2, the Seahawks could consider making some moves at the trade deadline.
After their week five performance, the defense has been propped up as an area the Seahawks could address. There have been trade rumors around Riq Woolen in the secondary, but regarding Seattle adding players, there has not been much buzz.
In a recent mailbag, Seahawks.com senior reporter John Boyle was asked what kind of moves could be coming for Seattle. While he didn't reveal any clear expectations, Boyle did allude to what John Schneider is working on at the moment, and it's an encouraging report.
Seahawks keeping close tabs on teams around the NFL ahead of the trade deadline
"I'm not going to pretend to know who or what position group the Seahawks might target in a potential trade, if they were to make one," Boyle writes, "But what is safe to say is that Schneider and the personnel department are paying very close attention to what teams around the league are doing and trying to decipher who might be available, and then looking at who could be a fit to add to the team."
This process isn't uncommon, and it's the expected one for a team like Seattle, which should be a playoff team this season. With a strong offense and solid defense, Seattle has all the reasons to be a buyer at the trade deadline.
Some positions on defense might be more obvious, like the needs at corner, linebacker, and safety, but the Seahawks aren't going to lock into just those spots.
As Boyle mentions, the Seahawks will be looking through teams around the league to see what players would be good additions to the roster at the trade deadline.
Seattle doesn't have any clear or dire needs like some other teams might have, but there are still plenty of ways to add to this roster.
With Sam Darnold looking like a top quarterback, the Seahawks have even more reason to be willing to buy at the deadline. For now, there aren't any concrete plans, but with the trade deadline getting closer by the day, Seattle making a trade or two wouldn't be out of the question.
As Boyle reports, the Seahawks are keeping close tabs on teams around the league for potential trade deadline additions. There are plenty of teams with losing records on the verge of being full-blown sellers, and Seattle might be buying, especially with their track record of in-season trades at the deadline.
