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The Calgary Flames have signed winger Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year contract extension worth $2.425 million per season.

Last summer Mangiapane, 24, signed a one-year ‘prove-it’ deal worth just over 700K. Well, he proved it. He scored at a ~21 goal pace and posted fantastic underlying numbers – in terms of both efficiency stats and on-ice metrics – across the board.

Since the counting stats didn’t necessarily match just how impactful of a player he has become, I thought the Flames would have been best chasing term rather than a bridge-deal. Mangiapane strikes me as somebody who could have been extended long-term at a number that he’d likely out-perform on an annual basis.

I understand why the Flames elected to put the screws to him on a bridge deal, though. As a byproduct of their off-season spending spree – they spent $10.5 million on Jacob Markstrom and Chris Tanev in free agency – and some other bad deals on the books, the Flames are in a pretty tight spot financially. They couldn’t really afford to give Mangiapane more money to get term; at least not as currently constructed.

Nobody is touching Milan Lucic, the Flames are no doubt reluctant to move Sam Bennett after his strong playoff run, and they probably waited too long on trading Noah Hanifin (there have been red flags for a while).

Their only way to clear real dollars is probably moving out one of the big guns. I don’t necessarily think that is a good idea – outside of potentially Sean Monahan, although they’d be selling at a low point with him.

That’s why they’re in a spot where a long-term deal was essentially off the table.

This is a bittersweet extension. Mangiapane at $2.425 million is an absolute steal. He is going to be underpaid millions of dollars over the two years he is signed for.

With that said, not doing what it takes to get Mangiapane locked up for the long haul feels like a wasted opportunity.

Recent posts:

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Flames sign Jacob Markstrom to long-term deal

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