In the middle of a hot day in the dessert shortly after the NHL's annual Awards Show, the Washington Capitals made another splash. They acquired Andrew Mangiapane from the Calgary Flames. The Caps made this move in exchange for a 2025 second round pick that was originally from Colorado.
The 28 year old recorded 40 points with 14 goals and 26 assists in 75 games with Calgary in 2023-24. 36 of his 40 points this past season came at even strength, per the Caps, and that ranks third on the Flames.
Listed as five foot 10 and 184 pounds, he ranked sixth on Calgary in assists, points, and plus-minus with a plus seven while tied for sixth in goals. In addition, Mangiapane accouted for 72 high danger scoring chances for, which tied for the team lead. In the 2021-22 season, he recorded a career high 55 points with 35 goals and 20 assists and has reached the 40 point mark in each of the last three seasons.
Andrew Mangiapane, a 28-year-old winger, is entering the final year of a contract that carries an AAV of $5.8M. (h/t @hockey_db) pic.twitter.com/kNMZlL7Lof
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) June 28, 2024
This is another heist by MacLellan in Vegas, a place where the Capitals tasted the ultimate success six years ago. $5.8 million is no joke and he looks like he's banking on that 17th pick even more. This move also comes eight days after the team acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois. The $5.8 deal right now is in the last year of Mangiapane.
Sammi Silber of The Hockey News noted this about his game:
""Mangiapane is a strong forward option who can provide scoring and be a contributor at special teams and at even strength. He gets to the right areas and is a strong finisher, and when he's on his game, he's on.""Sammi Silber
This adds more scoring next to Alex Ovechkin. They hope this improves their lack of offense from the last two seasons. Yes we all know about that -37 goal differential. Greg Wyshyski of ESPN noted that the Caps were ranked 28th best in goals per game at a scoring rate of just 2.63. He also added this:
""These acquisitions were even more essential due to injuries to Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom and winger T.J. Oshie, clouding their future. Increased offense will also be a boost to Ovechkin, who sits 42 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record."Greg Wyshynski