Victor Mancini's homecoming solidified his role in the Rangers roster

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Joshua Deeds
October 19, 2024 (10:12 PM)

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Victor Mancini made a homecoming to Little Caesar's Arena, which saw him and the Rangers post a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

The rookie defenseman was excited as he got to play with his family and friends in attendance.

Memories would flash back, as the defenseman, now 22 played in the Joe Louis Arena, and in Little Caesar's Arena with his 16U AAA team, playing a significant amount of time on the practice rink there.

«Our coach at 16s was Kris Draper,» Mancini told The Post on Saturday morning, referencing the four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Red Wings, before the Rangers took on the Maple Leafs. «To have a coach like that with NHL experience, to get to be around him and be coached by him was really good. Just being around the facilities, right, with him being Kris Draper. Every once in a while we got to use the weight room that the Wings had.

He reminisced his days playing as a youngster in Detroit, as the Hancock, Michigan-born defenseman, saw his life come full circle here.

«As a 16-year-old, that journey is just beginning where everything is getting very serious and Juniors is coming up. To kind of see how far you were and where you want to be, the level and the facilities, it was kind of cool and definitely drives you even more.»

He'd make the night special as he scored his first NHL that night, in the 5-2 victory against the Red Wings. He saw what he thought was his first NHL goal be disallowed in the 6-5 OT loss against Utah, as this time he made sure it was in before reaction took over.

«The reaction from the guys on the ice and the team on the bench meant a lot,» he said. «It was very special.»

He was very excited to score with so many special people in attendance and has proven himself to be an NHLer.

He has collected in 4 games, 1 goal, nine shots, six blocks, and three hits solidifying his spot on the bottom-pair with veteran Chad Ruhwedel.

Mancini has drawn in where Zac Jones was playing prior, and Mancini will likely have a spot in the lineup until the eventual return of Ryan Lindgren.

With Zac Jones being a scratch, and Chad Ruhwedel drawing in, it shows how much confidence Peter Laviolette has in the young defenseman.

The pairings could be changed once LIndgren returns, and if Mancini continues to play as he has, the 159th overall pick in 2022, could prove to be a staple in the lineup.

«I think it's just a growth mindset,» Mancini said of his mentality going forward. «Go out each day and have that drive to grow and to learn and to get better everyday. Keep with the things that I have been doing, right? Believe in my abilities, stay confident and not get too high or too low.»