Mangiapane ‘100 percent’ healthy for Flames after shoulder surgery
Forward said he will be ready when training camp opens in September
CALGARY — Andrew Mangiapane said he is “100 percent” healthy and will be ready when the Calgary Flames open training camp next month.
The 27-year-old forward had shoulder surgery in April after the Flames failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“I have to get cleared for kind of the physical contact and doing all that stuff, but as far as on the ice, I’m shooting, passing, practicing like I normally would and working out like I normally would,” Mangiapane said before teeing off at the Calgary Italian Open on Monday. “Still have to keep up with the physio and making everything stronger, but it’s looking good right now. Everything is going as planned. The medical team and the surgeon is saying it’s looking great.
“I’m excited to go back out and just play, and now I’m 100 percent, fully healthy and everything like that. It’s just more exciting to go back and be ready for camp and start the ball rolling for me.”
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Mangiapane injured his shoulder in October just a few games into last season.
“It was kind of a weird injury,” he said. “I didn’t really think anything was going on that was too serious and all that, but it happened early on, and it just kept bugging me throughout the whole season. Some games were worse than others. But yeah, I’m happy that I needed to get it done and that I was able to play out the season, and that this year is a fresh start for me and I can go out and just play.”
Although Mangiapane had 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in 82 games last season, his 9.3 percent shooting percentage and average of 0.21 goals per game were his lowest since his rookie season with the Flames in 2018-19.
Those totals came after Mangiapane raised expectations by setting NHL career highs in goals (35) and points (55) in 2021-22.
“I don’t see any reason why I can’t get back to that or do better,” Mangiapane said. “It’s there for me. I’ve done it in the past. I think for me, I’ve just got to go out there and play my game, be tenacious and hardworking, and the scoring opportunities and the goals will come for me.”
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Calgary (38-27-17) finished fifth in the Pacific Division last season, two points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card from the Western Conference. The Flames finished first in the Pacific in 2021-22.
“We were in that playoff race throughout the whole season,” Mangiapane said. “It was a little frustrating that way. It is what it is. Not to look back on it and dwell on the past, but I didn’t think it was anything too serious and then it turns out I needed shoulder surgery. Happy that it’s over with and happy that it’s 100 percent, I’d say, and happy to go out on the ice in another couple weeks here with all the guys and to see everybody.”
Not everyone is back in Calgary, however.
Tyler Toffoli, who led the Flames with 73 points (34 goals, 39 assists) in 82 games last season, was traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 27 for forward Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (Aydar Suniev).
Forward Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin have unclear futures too. Each is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, as are forward Mikael Backlund and defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev.
“I think a lot of the players that are up are good players, and even though they’re on those one-year deals they still make an impact on our team for the good,” Mangiapane said. “They’re good people and awesome players.
“I think there was a lot of rumors and things floating around, but the guys … everybody in that locker room is a pro and first and foremost a good person. I think everyone’s going to want to be the hardest working guy and come out and do the best they can regardless of their situation. That’s what we need from everybody is whether you’re on a one-year deal or eight-year deal, whatever it is, everyone has to come to camp and be ready to play and give it their all because I think when it comes down to it we’ve got a great team and we should be in contention here.”