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March 20, 2026 By  Vancouver Canucks, Hockey, News, NHL

Vancouver Canucks Sign Depth Defenceman to a Two-Year Extension

The Vancouver Canucks announced on Friday afternoon that they have re-signed defenceman Victor Mancini to a two-year contract. The contract will be worth $1 million, as an average annual value. This is a depth signing at this time for Vancouver, but Mancini could turn out to be a regular NHL player at some point. So, let’s discuss the details.

Credit Image: © Daniel Lea/Cal Sport Media

Canucks Extension for Mancini On Two-Year Deal

The 23-year-old right-shot defenceman has not recorded a point for Vancouver in 18 games this season. He has played in 49 career NHL games between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks, recording eight points. With the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, Mancini scored four goals and eight assists for twelve points in 33 games. Mancini was acquired with Filip Chytil in the blockbuster trade that saw J.T. Miller go to the New York Rangers on January 31, 2025.

Victor has fit in nicely with our organization,” said general manager Patrik Allvin. “He was a key part of our Calder Cup winning team last year in Abbotsford, and this season he has continued to develop his skill set with the help of our group. Depth on the backend is very important for our team moving forward and we are happy to have Victor be a part of the blueline mix.” 

Mancini’s Role Going Forward and Comparables

Mancini is a young depth piece for the Canucks at the moment, playing third-pair minutes. As the Canucks continue to rebuild, that is the role that he will likely keep playing. His contract is similar to how the Canucks management group has worked with depth players in the past. Nils Höglander was signed to a two-year contract with a $1.1 million cap hit at age 23. Max Sasson re-signed with the Canucks this season to a two-year, $1 million contract at age 25. Both of those players, among more examples such as Spencer Martin and Vasily Podkolzin, signed on low-risk contracts at a similar age. Like Mancini, they were not established NHL players yet, but management was willing to bet on their future. Time will tell if Mancini will live up to the faith that management has in him.

Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

About Marcus Yu

Marcus Yu is a writer specializing on the Vancouver Canucks at Last Word On Hockey. He is a current anime and hockey writer, always looking to improve his skills in writing. He has been a hockey fan for over 10 years, and looks to bring his expertise to the hockey sphere. Communications major/Linguistics minor at the University of Toronto.