Former Flames Fan Favorite Facing Another Major Test After Career Takes Unexpected Turn

Andrew Mangiapane’s name has always carried a little irony. A player known for battling through everything on the ice is now dealing with some actual “pain” away from it.

The former Calgary Flames forward is currently sidelined with a lower-body injury, according to TSN, but the setback is not expected to threaten his availability for training camp with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 30-year-old enters the final season of his contract looking to rediscover the form that once made him one of Calgary’s most trusted forwards — and prove there is still plenty left to give at the NHL level.

Selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Bolton, Ontario native went from long-shot prospect to a key piece of the Flames’ lineup. Over seven seasons in Calgary, he became one of the team’s most reliable competitors, earning a reputation as a player who could be counted on in difficult moments.

In 417 games with the Flames, Mangiapane recorded 109 goals and 106 assists for 215 points. He added another 12 points in 27 playoff games, including his breakout 2021-22 campaign when he exploded for a career-high 35 goals.

At that point, Mangiapane looked like a player who had firmly established himself as part of Calgary’s long-term plans.

But hockey careers rarely follow a straight line.

Since leaving the Flames, Mangiapane has bounced between three organizations while searching for the consistency that once defined his game. After being traded to the Washington Capitals, he posted 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points in 81 games during the 2024-25 season.

That production convinced the Edmonton Oilers to take a chance in free agency, signing him to a two-year, $7.2 million contract. The hope was that a change of scenery could help unlock the player Calgary fans knew so well.

Instead, the move quickly became a difficult chapter.

Mangiapane managed only 14 points in 52 games with Edmonton, recording seven goals and seven assists before the Oilers made a deadline decision to move on.

In March, Edmonton traded Mangiapane and a 2027 first-round pick to Chicago in exchange for forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. However, his arrival with the Blackhawks did not immediately spark a turnaround, as he finished the season with just two points in 10 games — one goal and one assist.

Now, Chicago represents another opportunity.

The injury may be an unwanted obstacle, but Mangiapane has time to recover before training camp begins. Entering a contract year, the veteran forward has a chance to rewrite the recent narrative surrounding his career and remind teams why he was once viewed as one of Calgary’s most valuable forwards.

For a player who built his reputation on resilience, the next chapter could be the most important one yet.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →