News > Portland Pirates
Mancari is here now, but not to stay
By Chris Roy Published: 4th October 2010It’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place for forward Mark Mancari.
In four of the last five years, Mancari has posted 20 goal seasons; he’s been an AHL All-Star twice and holds the record for the hardest shot (102.8mph), yet he’s stuck in the AHL.
He’s caught in tweenerland, where a player is exceptional at the AHL level, but for any number of reasons can’t seem to find their way to the NHL on a consistent basis, which has left Mancari somewhat frustrated.
“It’s definitely disappointing not to be in the NHL,” said Mancari. “That was my number goal, that’s what we’re all here for. I’m not upset to be in Portland. I like the coaching staff. I like the team and the organization.”
“I guess you could say that I’m upset to be sent down. I’m frustrated with that. I’ve given five years to Buffalo and I think I’ve been fairly good (in the AHL) the last five (seasons).”
Mancari has been a good player in the AHL. He’s lead the Sabres’ farm team the last three seasons – tied with former Sabres Tim Kennedy in ’08-’09 – in Rochester and Portland. In 362 games, Mancari scored 119 goals, 178 assists for 297 points with a plus-18 rating. However, he’s only been able to play 16 NHL games over his five years pro, scoring five points (2g, 3a) in that span.
“I have to be in a situation where I can get an opportunity,” he said. “A lot of (making the NHL) is about getting an opportunity. Buffalo has a lot of one-way (contracts), and it makes it hard for guys down here (to get shot).”
Photo by Dan Hickling
Mancari also isn’t second guessing himself about what he could have done different to stay in Buffalo.
He knows that he has aspects of his game that he needs to work on, and he acknowledged coming to Portland meant it would be another season of working with Pirates head coach Kevin Dineen.
“My consistency and my foot speed,” said Mancari on aspects where he still needs to improve. “I’ve learn a lot from having Kevin Dineen as a coach. He’s really helped me mature the last couple of years.”
“You can only control the things you control, and coming down here my last two years I’ve been over or close 70 points so I’m doing all that can on the ice and during games. I just have to keep working on my speed.”
“Hopefully that will be what gets me to that next level,” he said… “I think if you come down here and dwell and sulk, you’re trying to figure out why you’re not (in Buffalo), it’s going to take away from your game (in Portland), and it’s going to take away your opportunity to go back.”
That said it looks like this will certainly be his last season with the Pirates and very well could be the last year with the Sabres. Last might have been his last season as Mancari was inundated with offers from Europe, but heading overseas would have delayed his ability to become an unrestricted free agent, potentially signing with the Sabres or another NHL team.
“Europe was something that we definitely looked at,” he said. “We didn’t want to eliminate any option and there were a lot of great offers, a lot of good teams in good cities, at the end of the day I missed being an unrestricted free agent by 10 days so if I went away it almost eliminates my goal of trying to make the NHL and Buffalo would retain my rights.”
Mancari squashed his critics’ beliefs that he needs to play a more physical game. At 6-3, 225-pounds, many have questioned Mancari’s toughness on the ice, playing it off as he’s too finesse for his size.
Mancari certain doesn’t believe so and neither do the Sabres.
“A lot of people think or have said that because (I’m) a big guy and (I) needs to do this or that and Buffalo doesn’t say that,” Mancari said. “Buffalo said I don’t have to. They want me to score goals and be an offensive (player).”
“I think they were pleased with my camp.”
NOTES: The Pirates held their first full practice now that everyone has finally arrived from Buffalo. Portland will travel tomorrow to play the Manchester Monarchs in their lone preseason game at Conway Arena in Nashua, NH at 8pm. The Pirates prepared putting their first semblance of a hockey team on the ice, skating four lines and three pairs of defensemen.
Mancari-Byron-Legault
Whitmore-Roloff-Adam
Stuart-Schutz-Tropp
Turnbull-Ricci-McCauley
Crawford-Conboy
Persson-Schiestel
Brennan-Biega
~David Leggio will most likely get the start in Nashua tomorrow with Alex Petizian as backup. Dineen didn’t sound very confident today that Jhonas Enroth will arrive in Portland for the start of the season.
~Jacob Lagace skated in practice, but is dealing with a slight lower body injury.
~Mancari and Marc-Andre Gragnani have cleared waivers. Gragnani suffered a knee sprain during rookie camp and will be out until late October. The Sabres have placed Matt Ellis on waivers. Ellis played 12 games for the Pirates in the ’08-’09 season, scoring two goals, two assists. If he clears waivers, he’ll be assigned to Portland.
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“And, I do harbor strong feelings of resentment toward the Sabres for leaving us with a mess,”
Your organization is the one that got itself into the mess, and owed our organization money- the Sabres were supposed to stay affiliated with a team that they couldn’t affiliate with on their own, and that owed them money?? No.
Donner, your owner back then, got you into the mess, how can you blame the Sabres for severing ties with someone who mismanaged the team so badly and refused to depart from the dual affiliations because he wanted to profit from it? Your team was 2 million dollars in debt, and could not agree with the Sabres in term of managing players- it was better that the two organizations split.
In essence, it was your owner Donner who didn’t promote winning, not the Sabres.
I absolutely love that Portland is our affiliate, yes, I wish they were closer, but it doesn’t mean I won’t go for a 10 hour road trip. The fans, the arena, the team, I love the Portland Pirates.
Perfectly put Jeff – this line sums it all up: “It is not your god given right to make the club…”
Having watched Mancari try to break the lineup for several years, I have noticed the one thing that keeps him in the AHL. Mark lacks consistancy. He comes up all guns blazing…gets comfortable, and drops inro oblivion. It is not your god given right to make the club just because of the time you have spent with the big team. As for the Amerks..I thought they had given guys like Barrasso, Miller, and several other guys decent shots at the big time.
I should clarify – when I say “the Sabres never did,” I mean the current “regime.”
I’m on this site because I saw a link to an article about Mancari, and wanted to find out which Euro team he’d signed with. Shocked to read this article – though, very well-written Chris.
And, I do harbor strong feelings of resentment toward the Sabres for leaving us with a mess, so, no offense to you guys, but the continued downward spiral of the Pirates/Sabres is of great personal interest to me.
Why any of you would have any strong feelings against the Panthers is beyond me, but I don’t really care, so long as they keep us competitive and openly say that they will promote winning here, which they do. Something the Sabres never did.
Okay GaryMac……The Pirates whopping 1 playoff win the last 2 years isn’t bested much by our 3, but career AHL’ers DO win cups (See Hershey) and give a franchise an identity. The Maine Mariners were an example of a great veteran laded cup winning team. The Pirates won’t win any rings with the Sabres. Rings are all that matter…not watching prospects maybe develop.
As for the Panthers…I could care a less who our parent club is, and don’t give a whit how they do. I care about players wearing the Amerk jersey, and after that I have no interest.
If you are so happy with those loser Panthers why are you on the Sabres/Pirates site , we had Gerbe, Ennis to watch the last few years , who’ve you been watching ??Taffe, Mink and all those career AHL players .Anyway with your attendance you will be lucky to have a team soon
Thanks Chris, but that’s fine. Pacer, you were actually half right – I’m an overweight couch potato who USED to play hockey.
Back in my “prime” – middle school, haha – I was playing for a former Amerk, and with regard to a couple of native Rochesterians who were getting some buzz for cracking the pro ranks, he said this: Jason Bonsignore has the talent to be the next Mario Lemieux, but he won’t be, because he lacks two things: HEART and BALLS. Rory Fitzpatrick has both, he’s going to make it. Fitzpatrick just retired last year after a long and successful pro career, as captain of his hometown team. As for the former, look him up on HockeyDB.
Listen, I’m not sitting here and saying it’s easy to make it to the top level, or even to the AHL. But I am saying that it’s pretty easy to see and hear whether or not a guy has those two things: HEART and BALLS. When a guy refuses to finish a check, doesn’t stick up for teammates on the ice, whines constantly in the paper, etc., that’s kind of all you need to know about where he stands with respect to those two things.
And thank you, we will take the Panthers. At least they give us enough guys to play our preseason games.
I’m one of those overweight couch potatoes who never played…although I know a quite of bit about AHL hockey specifically, and I can say without a doubt that Mancari is no Andreychuk.
For a soft player to openly admit he doesn’t like the physical game says to me he belongs in Europe.
I’m glad I don’t have to root for him anymore…it was very difficult.
Mancari deserves credit for sticking it out , he could get a shot next yr , as for the Rochester jerk , nice team you had last yr , didn’t develop anybody , folded after the 1st month , you can have the PANTHERS you guys deserve each other .
I don’t think that someone who has played hockey likely most of their life,(not just Mancari) achieved what Mancari has achieved so far, stuck with and put up with attacks that fans dish out, could be called a selfish player with no heart. It takes a lot of heart to stay in this sort of “occupation” and not just give up. It is easy to sit back in a comfy chair and criticize others for things that we may be even want to attempt. Being a winner isn’t just about winning the game.
I’m all for letting people express themselves even if we don’t agree with each other, but please refrain from personal attacks or you won’t be able to post here.
Just keep your comments about the story.
Hey Pete… have you ever played hockey or are you one of those overweight couch potatoes who dont know anything about the game? I bet it is the latter.
Thanks Pete – I’m just sorry you guys have to be subjected to the Sabres organization at all. They just clearly don’t put a premium on winning at all.
Their “development” plan does not take into account that the only way to develop winners at every level is simply to win at every level. That is evident by everything the organization does (not sending Portland enough players), and the attitudes of each of their players (Mancari).
We’re glad to be rid of it in Rochester, and sorry you have to deal with it.
You are entitled to your opinion
What I think is great here is that all we ever hear Mancari talk about is himself. Constantly, over and and over again – I feel like I read this same article every year.
He just doesn’t get it. He’ll never be a winner, because he doesn’t know how to think beyond himself. He won’t make sacrifices for his teammates, he won’t play for the crest on the front of his sweater, he won’t take the hit to make the play.
Mark Mancari is a selfish player with no heart, plain and simple. Why are we even talking about size? I want a guy that will go all out for his team, pay the price, do what it takes.
Brian Gionta was just named captain of the Montreal Canadiens. He’s half the size of Mancari, but he has twice the heart…and you never hear him talk about himself in interviews. He’s an NHLer, he’s a leader, and he’s a winner – take note Mancari.
Absolutely wrong. Finally we get a players side of the story. A quote from MSG
“I don’t think you have to be physical at his size,” Ruff said. “He’s a goal scorer. I think it’s if you can get to the right spot. (Former Sabre) Dave Andreychuk wasn’t physical, about the same size and a good goal scorer.
Since when is it whining to do as you are told. I think this was an honest interview. He has accepted his faults and continues to try and improve on them. It isn’t that he isn’t good enough for the NHL, just no place for him with the Sabres.
Hahahahaha!! Is it just me or did Mancari sound like a spoiled little brat that entire article. Especially the – “Well, Buffalo said I don’t have to hit people and I don’t wanna, so I’m not gonna!”
What a WASTE!! Biggest waste I’ve ever seen at this level, going back to his days here in Rochester. You got no HEART Mancari, and THAT is why you’ll never make it!!!