A Q&A with Canucks prospect Victor Mancini
As the Abbotsford Canucks grabbed a 1–0 lead over the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Round 2 of the AHL playoffs, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal caught up with defenceman Victor Mancini to reflect on his eventful trade, playoff experience, and transition into the Canucks organization.
Quads: What stood out in Game 1 as your team got off to a strong start in the series?
Mancini: “The exciting part about last night’s game is we still have a lot more to give. We played a good game, but there’s little details in our game we can be much better at, so it’s exciting going into tomorrow’s game with more to prove.”
Quads: Can you take us back to the moment you found out you were being traded?
Mancini: “It’s a little bit chaotic. I was in Hartford at the time, in the Rangers organization, playing in Laval. I was getting ready for a game, on the ice warming up, and after warmups, my coach pulled me aside and said, “Hey, you’re not dressing tonight.” Usually, when I’d go up or down, they’d tell me right away, but they didn’t say anything. I was a little confused, but they said it was a decision from management, and that’s all they know. So once guys hear that in the locker room, and you get some looks, you hear about all the J.T. Miller stuff, and your mind starts to wander.
“The next thing you know, I’m looking at my phone seeing tweets from Elliotte Friedman or those insiders asking if it’s true. At the time, I didn’t know. My agent was calling me, going through the process, getting calls from Allvin and the GM. It felt like I was wanted in the Canucks organization, which made me feel at ease. I was on a plane to Vancouver the next day and the rest is history.”
Harm: How did it feel being included in such a major trade? Do you feel valued by the Canucks?
Mancini: “It’s been great. I really enjoy being part of the Canucks. Playing in the NHL in a Canadian city is amazing – the support we get from fans and walking through the street, people come up and say welcome to Vancouver, and you can tell how invested people are in the Canucks, which is really special.
“Inside the organization, everyone was super welcoming. It’s a bit younger of a team, so it was easy to connect with guys. There were a couple people I knew in the organization, so that helped getting comfortable. Being around other prospects in the same situation as you, it was easy to hit the ground running and put my best foot forward.”
Quads: How was the decision made for you to join Abbotsford for playoffs?
Mancini: “It’s a decision from management, but I’m really happy I’m here in Abbotsford. Looking back on this year and my path, I haven’t played as many games as other guys. It’s important for me to get more games under my belt at the professional level, get that sense of playoff hockey and how important each game is, and grow my game.”
Harm: What’s your relationship been like with Manny Malhotra?
Mancini:” Our relationship individually between me and Manny is growing. He’s a guy who brings excitement and energy to the rink every day, and guys feed off that. At the same time, he’s going to push you and demand the best from you, which has been really good for me in my time here.”
Quads: How do you approach the differences between succeeding in the AHL and NHL?
Mancini: The American League is already such a skilled league. There are little unique differences, but for me it’s about continuing to play with pace. Being able to make plays quickly- it’s a physical league, so being big and tough helps you get ready for that next level. I try to, whichever league I’m at, focus on the things I want to focus on, play my game, not try to be someone I’m not, and make sure that translates wherever I am.
Harm: What strengths do you rely on most, and what do you want to improve to reach the next level?
Mancini: When I feel confident with the puck in my hands, I’m moving my feet, I have my head up, making those simple plays, and like I said, not trying to be someone I’m not. When opportunities present themselves I can make moves and plays, be dynamic with the puck.
With Manny and how he’s been helping guys get to the next level, the big thing has been consistency. You have to be consistent at both levels, especially the NHL, so making sure game in and game out I’m doing all the right things, not forcing plays and things like that.
Moving to the next level, I want to make plays- I want my skill, sense, and skating to show at the next level- but there are plays where you just have to get it hard off the glass. You have to know clock management, game management, making the hard play, and that’s something I’ve been trying to focus on.
Quads: What have you picked up from playing alongside Quinn Hughes?
Mancini: What he does on the ice is obviously really special, and it makes it easy to play with a guy like that. To read off him- he’ll get the puck in your hands too because he draws extra guys and opens space.
I’ve enjoyed the talk in the locker room and on the bench. We get together and talk through plays, he gives me his advice, and the communication on the ice as well. It’s something I think I do well, but I strive to do better- that constant communication on the ice, because you’re going to help out your forwards, goalie, and partner, and it’s a really big part of the game.
Harm: How have you felt about the locker room culture in both Vancouver and Abbotsford?
Mancini: It was great in Vancouver- really easy to come in and gel with the guys. The atmosphere in the locker room was great. Outside of it as well, there were a lot of guys living in hotels together who were called up, so we were spending a lot of time together, going out to dinners and everything.
Especially coming to Abbotsford, I already knew a couple guys coming in but getting to know everyone more. The guy who sticks out is Ty Mueller- I played with him in Omaha for three years, so it was nice to have that familiar face.
Going on this playoff run, you can talk about the skill of teams and everything else, but I feel like more times than not, the teams that are closest off the ice go the furthest on the ice, and we’re a tight- knit group here.
Quads: Your dad has a long coaching background- what kind of impact did that have on your early hockey years?
Mancini: I was born up in Hancock, Michigan- [my dad] was coaching at Michigan Tech. By the time I really started getting into hockey, we were living in Saginaw. He was coaching in the OHL at the time with the Spirit. Those are my earliest memories- being around him on the ice and in the locker room- and that’s where his passion for hockey started to transfer to me.
His knowledge of the game and how smart he is, how many years he’s been around the game- it’s really fun. I attribute a lot of where I am now to his help.
Quads: What led to your decision to play in Sweden?
Mancini: My dad had some connections with the under- 20 coach in Frölunda. He was really great with me and watched me grow up playing the game, so I was blessed with the opportunity to be on his team over there.
My development path at the time- the options I was looking at- I felt like going there would be best for me. I was able to get a lot of playing time. They call them academies, which is like hockey school but you’re playing within the team. All the stuff we did on and off the ice training- wise was second to none, so I’m really thankful for that opportunity. Those years of development I had at that young age are a big reason I’m where I am today.
