Mangiapane says new-look Flames will contend for Pacific title

BARRIE, Ontario -- Andrew Mangiapane said he's thrilled with his new contract with the Calgary Flames and feels the team has a legitimate shot to win the Pacific Division with the help of newcomers Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar.

The 26-year-old forward
signed a three-year, $17.4 million contract
with the Flames on Tuesday that carries an average annual value of $5.8 million. He was scheduled for an arbitration hearing Friday.
Mangiapane is coming off a season in which he set personal NHL highs in goals (35), assists (20) and points (55) and will be looked to pick up part of the offensive slack with the departures of forwards Johnny Gaudreau and
Matthew Tkachuk
.
"Obviously I'm excited that we could get a three-year deal done,'' Mangiapane said Wednesday during an appearance at the Boots and Hearts Barn Burner charity hockey game. "I was getting nervous with the hearing approaching. I wanted a longer-term deal. I wanted to stay in Calgary longer. Obviously we've got some new pieces and some guys left, but I'm still excited about our team. I think we can be in the mix to finish atop the division. I really do.
"I know there's been a lot of talk whether guys want to play in Canada or not. Well, I love playing in Canada. I love being in a Canadian market. I'm from Canada (Bolton, Ontario), grew up in Canada, and being in Calgary, it's like a second home to me. I love the city, I love the organization and my teammates are great. It's a great place to play hockey."
Mangiapane admits the past three weeks have been a roller coaster ride for him, just like it has been for his teammates and Flames fans.

The Flames won the Pacific Division last season, going 50-21-11, and their 111 points were the second most in Flames/Atlanta Flames history and seven better than the second-place Edmonton Oilers. After defeating the Dallas Stars in seven games in the Western Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Flames lost to the rival Oilers in five games in the second round.
Then on July 12, Gaudreau told the Flames he would not be signing a long-term contract with them as free agency approached. The next day, the 28-year-old unrestricted free agent, who was tied for second in the NHL last season with 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) in 82 regular-season games, signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract ($9.75 million AAV) with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
On July 25, Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers for Huberdeau, a forward, Weeger, a defenseman, and forward prospect
Cole Schwindt
. The 24-year-old forward, who had an NHL career-high 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) in 82 games last season, was a restricted free agent and had told Calgary he did not want to sign long-term with them.
Mangiapane said Flames general manager Brad Treliving deserves credit for the return he got from the Panthers.
Huberdeau, who
signed an eight-year, $84 million extension
($10.5 million AAV) on Thursday, had an NHL career-high 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) in 80 games last season, when he led the NHL in assists and tied Gaudreau for second in points. Selected by the Panthers with the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, the 29-year-old has 613 points (198 goals, 415 assists) in 671 regular-season games and 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 26 playoff games.
Weegar had 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists) in 80 regular-season games and one assist in 10 playoff games last season. The 28-year-old has 121 points (27 goals, 94 assists) in 306 regular-season games and five points (one goal, four assists) in 20 playoff games, all with the Panthers.
"It's tough when you lose two guys like that," Mangiapane said of Tkachuk and Gaudreau. "But we received some excellent talent back and they are going to help our team a lot. [Huberdeau] is an elite playmaker and [Weegar] is one of the better defensemen in the league. It was a good trade.
"Johnny and 'Chuck' are great guys on and off the ice. I wish nothing but the best for them, both in their careers and their lives."

In the absence of Tkachuk and Gaudreau, Mangiapane will have the chance to play an even bigger role this season with the Flames.
"With two big guys like that leaving, there's room and opportunity to grow, not just for me but for other guys on the team," he said. "I'm just excited to get there and get things rolling."
The Boots and Hearts Barn Burner charity game was a homecoming of sorts for Mangiapane, who played for Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League from 2013-16 and had 261 points (118 goals, 143 assists) in 195 regular-season games. The contest helped raise money for Royal Victoria Health Centre, Rotary, PIE Education, Easter Seals and the Canadian Mental Health Association in Barrie in conjunction with the John Tavares Foundation.
"Great to be back, and so many great causes," Mangiapane said. "Had some great memories here. After the stress of the last few weeks, it's a lot of fun.
"Now I can't wait for the season to get started."