Peter Laviolette Happy With Victor Mancini Despite Demotion To AHL

The New York Rangers made a big decision on Wednesday to send Victor Mancini down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.

The 2022 fifth-round pick earned a spot with the Rangers through an impressive training camp, which was a surprise to many.

The move to send Mancini down was not a slight on the way he’s been playing, in fact Peter Laviolette was pleased with the progression the young defenseman was showing.

“He did a real good job here. We’re really happy with him,” Laviolette said on Thursday.

The 22-year-old played a total of nine games for the Rangers where he recorded one goal, three assists and four points while averaging 15:21 minutes.

Mancini has the potential to be a promising NHL defenseman in the future and by playing with the Wolf Pack, he will continue his development onto that path.

Zac Jones was starting to hit his stride with the Rangers, which left Mancini as the odd man out, but now he’ll have the opportunity to play heavy minutes in Hartford while getting the opportunity to experience a multitude of different roles.

If a defenseman happens to get injured, Mancini is more than capable to step in given the flashes he put on display through his short stint with the Rangers.

Some may view this move as a demotion for Mancini, but that’s the wrong way to look at it. He should blossom into the player everyone knows he can be by being in the AHL, and before you know it, he’ll be back with the Rangers.