The New York Rangers reveal they have a "Secret Weapon" at training camp

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Joshua Deeds
September 9, 2024 (7:34 PM)

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22-year-old Rangers prospect Victor Mancini is a bit of an enigma. We're here to help clear up the smoke shrouding the defenseman.

Mancini hails from Hancock, Michigan which has a claim to fame, as the "second snowiest town" in America.

This city is just across the street from Houghton, Michigan which was home of the very first pro-hockey league on the continent.

Jess Rubenstein enlightened Stan Fischler on the 6'4", 220 pound "Vito Vittorio" is a prospect who stood out last season from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

"He's the prototype stay-at-home defenseman," Rubenstein explains, "with excellent on-ice vision. He's more a passer than a scorer but his offense is coming around. His game is a lot like Marc Staal's when Marc was a Ranger."

He was selected 159th overall, in 2022 in the fifth round.

"He reads the game off the puck and is very alert defensively," according to another scouting report.

Mancini will benefit from the attention he receives from newly-retired, now defensive consultant for the Rangers, Marc Staal.

Rubenstein: "Victor has a similar style to Staal, especially on the physical side. I project Mancini eventually as a third-pair Rangers defenseman with some power play work."

He's going to spend next season with the AHL's Hartford Wolfpack in his development path.

"The best thing about him," Rubenstein concludes, "is that Victor is working on his development."

We'll find out how close Mancini is to making the Rangers team at the end of training camp.

Source: The Hockey News
Rangers 'Secret Weapon' Is Coming To Training Camp