Mancini might force Vancouver Canucks to make uncomfortable roster decision
The sting of J.T. Miller’s trade to the New York Rangers won’t heal until the Vancouver Canucks have some regular-season success.
However, the two players Vancouver received in return for Miller have been the team’s best skaters early in the preseason.
Filip Chytil has looked like a man on a mission since the beginning of training camp, and he buried his first preseason goal against the Calgary Flames.
The Czech winger is firmly on this roster; however, the same wasn’t true for defenceman Victor Mancini entering training camp.
With each passing game, the 23-year-old blueliner is starting to look like a roster lock.
Mancini has scored twice during preseason action, once against the Seattle Kraken and then again against the Flames.
That Calder Cup champion connection š¤
Bains ā”ļø Karlsson ā”ļø Mancini pic.twitter.com/4Fke5ff4Yu— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 25, 2025
He had a beautiful shift against Calgary, where he set up a grade-A scoring chance right before burying a goal himself.
Right before Mancini scored I was about to post this clip where he dances around Joel Farabee with a BEAUTIFUL toe drag, but chose pass over a great shot opportunity.
He made sure to call his own number the second time on the shift. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/NYAHSoRwtt— Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) September 25, 2025
“He’s powerful,” Foote told the media on Sunday after the Canucks lost to the Kraken. “He came into camp in really good shape. You saw the power.”
Foote did try to pump the brakes a bit on Mancini’s success after the Canucks first preseason game.
“He got excited once the one goal came. I don’t want to say he did too much… I like the way he had the juices going, the energy, a lot of good things, but we’ll have to calm some of it down in the neutral zone.”
“The beauty is, he’s got the power and he’s pushing hard.”
Mancini was nearly flawless against Calgary. Aside from one turnover in his own zone early on, Mancini was a force in the offensive zone, and he played a clean game defensively. The Hancock, Michigan, native also got some penalty killing shifts against the Flames, hopping over the boards before another young, right-shot defenceman in Tom Willander.
“I’m happy with today,” Mancini said following the victory against Calgary. “Felt like I took another step from Sunday to today.”
“There are still a few things that I want to go back and work on, but I’ll just go look at the video tonight or tomorrow and make adjustments.”
“I’m just focusing on myself and what I can do to help this team, help this organization, but also putting myself in the best position possible too.”
This is the second preseason in a row that Mancini has impressed his NHL squad. Last season with the Rangers, he was considered a long shot to make the roster. He defied those odds and ended up with the Rangers on opening night.
Tough decision coming for Canucks coaching staff
The Canucks have a riddle to solve if Mancini is going to stick with the team to start the season.
Vancouver’s top four is likely set, with Quinn Hughes saddling up alongside Filip Hronek, while Marcus Pettersson and Tyler Myers hold down the second pairing.
That would leave Derek Forbort, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Elias Pettersson and Mancini fighting for the final spots in the lineup.
While the Canucks probably don’t mind having Forbort or Joseph sit in the press box for an extended period of time, that wouldn’t be an ideal scenario for either Pettersson or Mancini if they do in fact make the Canucks NHL roster. Neither Mancini nor Pettersson is waiver-eligible, so the Canucks don’t have that pressure point either.
During Mancini’s 16 NHL games with the Canucks in 2024-25, Forbort was his most common partner. The Canucks outscored the opposition 3-0 at even strength with that pair on the ice; however, the team was outshot 36-59 in those minutes.
Could the team also roll the dice with two inexperienced defenders in Pettersson and Mancini on the bottom pairing?
Most NHL coaches tend to pair young defencemen with a veteran. However, Mancini skated alongside Pettersson for a chunk of training camp. They also played on the same pair during the Canucks preseason game against the Kraken.
There’s also the outside chance that the Canucks could pair Mancini with Marcus Pettersson. A stay-at-home defenceman like the 29-year-old veteran could be a logical partner for Mancini. The two also controlled possession in limited minutes last year, with an expected goals percentage of 71 per cent.