The Rangers have called up defenseman Victor Mancini from AHL Hartford, according to the minor league’s transaction log.
To keep their active roster at a maximum of 23 players, they have loaned center Jake Leschyshyn back to Hartford. Mancini, who is 6’3″ and weighs 215 pounds, unexpectedly made the opening night roster but was sent to the minors last week after being a healthy scratch for four consecutive games.
He has apparently done enough to earn another shot in the NHL, having scored once and recorded an even rating in three games with Hartford. A fifth-round pick in 2022, Mancini is in his first full professional season after playing the previous three years at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Earlier this season, he registered one goal and three assists with a +3 rating in his first nine NHL games.
However, his performance beyond the scoring sheet was less impressive. Supported by a .948 save percentage from his goalies while on the ice at even strength, the Rangers controlled just 35.4% of shot attempts and 34.5% of expected goals during Mancini’s shifts—significantly the worst possession statistics on the team this season. The Rangers already have an additional defenseman in Chad Ruhwedel on the roster, and there are no reported injuries. Mancini’s recall might be related to an undisclosed injury issue or simply to give him another opportunity to play in the NHL.
Leschyshyn, 25, had been on the Rangers’ roster for nearly a week but did not see any game action, remaining a healthy scratch for three straight games. He was the only extra forward with Filip Chytil sidelined, indicating that Chytil might be available to return tomorrow against the Oilers after missing three games due to an upper-body injury. In 13 games with Hartford this season, Leschyshyn recorded one goal and three assists for four points, along with a -4 rating. In 77 career NHL games, he has only two goals and four assists for six points and has not appeared in an NHL game since January 11, 2024, against the Blues.
No Comment! Be the first one.