Report: Andrew Mangiapane’s contract ask down to $850k

As the Calgary Flames hit the ice for the first day of main training camp, Sportsnet’s Eric Francis has provided a bit of intel regarding the contract saga regarding restricted free agent forward Andrew Mangiapane. According to Francis, Mangiapane has budged a little.

Mangiapane, 23, split last season on an entry-level contract where he made $730,000 salary at the NHL level ($70,000 in the AHL) and had a $705,000 cap hit. He had a superb start to the AHL season and was summoned from Stockton midway through the year, spending 44 games on the NHL roster where he amassed eight goals and 15 points on the fourth line.

Per Francis’ previous report, the Flames were offering $800,000 on a two-way deal while Mangiapane’s representation (Ritch Winter) desired a $1 million, one-way deal. Based on his experience level in pro hockey, Mangiapane is waiver eligible this season and so the one-way/two-way distinction seems a bit odd. He’s the type of player – young, fast, productive and able to play up and down the lineup – that seems unlikely to clear waivers. He doesn’t have a ton of NHL experience (just 54 games), but what he’s done so far suggests he’ll be a pretty good player going forward.

For now, though, negotiations continue on. Training camp continues all week at the Scotiabank Saddledome, with the Flames opening pre-season on Monday in a pair of split-squad games with the Vancouver Canucks. The regular season begins on Oct. 2.