An impressive first preseason game from defenseman Victor Mancini has the entire Rangers fanbase uncomfortable. They are discussing who could be left out to accommodate the Hancock, Michigan native, who has a strong showing in the prospects games with the Philadelphia Flyers, only to follow up with this against the Bruins. It's another solid showing from the Rangers prospect, and a conversation needs to be had about his future.
Mancini is a 22-year-old right-shot, 6'3", 220 lb defenseman. He's shown some offensive instinct, not afraid to lay the body out, and willing to get scrappy in the ironic Blueshirt of the Rangers. He's built to do everything Jacob Trouba does but costs a tenth of the price. Mancini makes so little money but offers everything that Trouba does, based on what we've seen in the preseason. Preseason and the NHL are different, but this is a serious debate.
This is probably Jacob Trouba's final season in New York. With his trade protection dropping from a no-movement clause to a modified no-trade clause where he can only block 15 teams, the Rangers tried to move him to a couple of teams. It drops further to a 10-team no-trade clause on July 1st, 2025, so the Rangers may move him, but the buyout penalty is $4 million against the cap for two years, which is better than the $8 million he's currently making.
Victor Mancini is the son of former Edmonton Oiler Robert Mancini and is only 22 years old. He's a little raw and could use some time in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack for the time being, but this is not a player many people thought could put on a showing this strong as quickly as he has. However, to say the Rangers have a player that could replace Jacob Trouba long-term in Mancini is not as crazy as it may have seemed in the summer.