Penguins Could Provide Fresh Start for Flames Forward
The Penguins could provide a fresh start for a Western Conference forward.
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins haven't entered the trade waters yet this offseason. Their division rivals kickstarted the string of transactions when the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals pulled off major trades to bolster their lineups.
If the Penguins want to get in on the action, there are myriad moves to make and positions needing upgrades. One area that doesn't immediately come to mind is improving the second line. However, the Penguins are the perfect situation for Calgary Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane to re-ignite this career.
The Penguins and Flames have already been linked to trade rumors this offseason, as both teams are in a bit of a sticky situation. Neither is a Stanley Cup contender, but it seems neither wants to fully commit to a rebuild quite yet. The Flames already shipped out their starting goaltender to New Jersey, and Mangiapane may be next on their list to move.
Mangiapane would make an excellent addition to the Penguins' forward group for multiple reasons. The first is that he loves to play around the net. Despite being a smaller player at 5'10, 185 pounds, he is fearless in the offensive zone.
Take a look at his highlights from this past season to get a sense of where he conducts his business. Adding another player who cleans up the dirty goals is exactly what the Penguins need.
The second reason is his intensity. Mangiapane brings it in every zone of play. He forechecks aggressively, is physical against opposing defenders, and blocks shots. Watching him play, you never wonder what effort level Mangiapane brings. It's always 110%.
The knock against him the past two seasons is his scoring. He established a career-high in 2021-22 by posting 35 goals. The issue is that he's not a 30-goal scorer; he's a 20-goal scorer. In the past two seasons, he's scored 17 and 18 goals, respectively. The issue in Calgary is that the Flames still view him as a top goal scorer when he clearly isn't. With the Penguins, Mangiapane could just be the player he is and nothing more.
Mangiapane would fit seamlessly on either of the Penguins' top two lines, but he seems to be a particular fit for Evgeni Malkin. His straight-line speed and effort in the offensive zone perfectly complement Malkin's playmaking abilities.
The Penguins have lots of work to do in the offseason in order to return to the playoffs in 2024-25. It's understandable if other team needs take priority, but a player like Mangiapane shouldn't be written off. The Pens need the type of game he plays in their lineup, and they could provide him with the fresh start he needs to succeed again.
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