Reading and reacting quicker with more physicality and less stick checking are going to grow Mancini’s game<\/p>\n
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Published Mar 22, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 6\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Victor Mancini knows his modest two-year contract agreement Friday to reward progression and future promise isn\u2019t an insurance policy to protect an NHL lineup position.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It\u2019s more like an improvement loan from the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> at US$1 million per season.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n However, if the hulking third-pairing defenceman can pay the faith back with interest \u2014 in the form of rounding into a complete and confident mainstay \u2014 he can cash in for longer term after becoming a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.<\/p>\n In the interim, he\u2019s all in on doing the hard work because the NHL is not the AHL. Things happen fast.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s our assignments in the D-zone,\u201d stressed the 23-year-old Mancini. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s being physical and ending plays quickly and rotations in that movement. It\u2019s getting into the forwards\u2019 hands and being able to transition. It\u2019s communication between defence and forwards, so we can have clean breakouts.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to be chunking pucks off the wall if I don\u2019t have to. I feeling more comfortable with every game, but I\u201dm still learning. When I\u2019m moving my feet and playing fast, that\u2019s when I feel most confident.\u201d<\/p>\n Reading and reacting quicker with better bursts of speed, combined with more physicality and less stick checking, will grow his game to become a reliable stay-at-home defender. He\u2019s averaging 13:51 of ice time in 19 pointless games and logged a season high 18:08 on Jan. 12 in Montreal.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The imposing 6-foot-3, 229-pound Mancini is part of a young back end that packs offensive potential but struggles to defend. And the stark reality of a rebuild was measured in 79 seconds of the second period Saturday against the St. Louis Blues at Rogers Arena<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Canucks, who often crumbled like a house with a weak foundation after giving up a goal, were true to troubling form. After former Canucks centre Pius Suter<\/a> bolted through the slot to jam home the opening goal midway through the second period, the Canucks chased the game again.<\/p>\n Pavel Buchnevich was left alone in the high slot and easily converted a cross-ice feed from a pinching Philip Broberg. And while Mancini had Jordan Kyrou tied up down low, nobody touched Buchnevich. It provided a two-goal cushion en route to a 3-1 Blues win in which the Canucks\u2019 middle stanza woes continued.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve been outscored 95-56 during those overwhelming 20 minutes, have given up the most goals and scored the fewest of any team. And amid the expected pain of rebuilding, the lack of structure and execution to get simply get pucks out is stunning.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe struggle in the second period because we get caught in our end easily,\u201d said Canucks head coach Adam Foote. \u201cWe stop skating and we have a hard time stopping cycles. We\u2019ve got to manage the puck better as a unit of five.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to generate offence when you\u2019re in your end and having changes that were really weak. They weren\u2019t even proper. We didn\u2019t dump it (puck) out deep enough to push them back and at least get our forecheck going.\u201d<\/p>\n The Canucks were also held to just 15 shots Saturday \u2014 one shot of their season low 14 in a 6-1 home-ice drubbing by the Dallas Stars on March 2 \u2014 and it\u2019s another reason why the last-place club has scored the second-fewest goals and given up the most.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t start on time,\u201d added Foote. \u201cWe weren\u2019t gapping up, and when your forwards aren\u2019t pushing up ice, you get caught in between. And if the defence isn\u2019t gaping up, they (Blues) were just hitting the middle.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to anchor the net. When we do, we can funnel pucks. We\u2019re looking for clean plays that aren\u2019t there. We have to get pucks down, jam the net, and find a way to get those dirty goals.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n For Mancini, it\u2019s striving for consistency of effort and not beating himself up when mistakes occur.<\/p>\n \u201cLike all young defencemen, it\u2019s the reps without the puck, which he\u2019s getting better at,\u201d said Foote.<\/p>\n Mancini never had that \u201cah-ha\u201d moment to signify a sure future in the game.<\/p>\n He was born in tiny Hancock, Mich., and with a dad who coached at several colleges, including Michigan Tech, his love of the game was cemented early. He idolized Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings and Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Lidstrom, it was how mistake-free he was in every game,\u201d marvelled Mancini.<\/p>\n Mancini was a 2022 fifth-round draft choice of the New York Rangers after being passed over the previous two years. And just as he looked to be getting a leg up last season with 15 NHL games, including the season opener, came the trade to Vancouver in the J.T. Miller<\/a> swap.<\/p>\n Mancini played 16 NHL games here and then helped the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford claim its first Calder Cup on June 23. He had eight points (3-5) in 24 games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just how meaningful those (Calder Cup) games were and you can\u2019t take a game or a shift off,\u201d recalled Mancini. \u201cIt helped establish a base and re-establishing my confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n And not forget the Abbotsford title experience because it was rare.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I won a state championship when I was a kid,\u201d said Mancini. \u201cNothing in junior or college, so that was the first big trophy and it was very special.\u201d<\/p>\n bkuzma@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks Coffee: Remember, they still need a lot of stuff<\/p>\n![\"Victor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2266954737_302168958.jpg\")
Victor Mancini of the Vancouver Canucks gets away from a hit by Nick Paul of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of NHL action at Rogers Arena on March 19, 2026 in Vancouver. Photo by Rich Lam \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.8.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators has puck knocked away by Victor Mancini of the Vancouver Canucks during Jan. 13, 2026 game in Kanata, Ont. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Filip](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774239204_928_2256929044_300882033.jpg\")
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