Brandon Manning's latest audition with the Philadelphia Flyers has done wonders for advancing his prospects for long-term employment in the NHL.
It's also helped boost his bank account.
Called up to Flyers from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the fourth time this season in late March, the 24-year-old from Prince George signed a one-year contract extension with the Flyers on Friday. The one-way deal for a guaranteed $625,000 will replace the two-way contract Manning signed last summer.
"The Flyers reached out to us before the trade deadline and at the time I was playing in the American League, having a good year, and being a free agent I knew I'd have some options this summer, so we weren't too concerned about it," said Manning.
"Moving forward, the last couple weeks playing in Philly has been exciting and obviously raised my stock a bit so then we've had a couple talks over the last week or so and were able to finalize it today. The one-way contract speaks well about the way they feel about me, it's nice to have that confidence in the management and the staff."
Today in Philadelphia. Manning and the Flyers, who will miss the playoffs, will try to play spoilers for the Ottawa Senators, who need at least one point to clinch a playoff spot. The game will be broadcast nationally (Sportsnet , 9:30 a.m. PDT).
"It's kind of weird beating Pittsburgh two of our last three games and now it's Ottawa having to beat us to get into the playoffs," said Manning. "It's a different feeling with our team out of the playoffs but its an opportunity for me to step in and play and it should be exciting. It'll be a fun day."
Manning has drawn regular duty in his latest stint with the Flyers. On March 28 against San Jose he was on the ice for 37 shifts and 25 minutes of the game and in the five games since has averaged between 18 and 20 minutes of playing time.
"The Carolina game (Thursday) night was the most comfortable I've ever felt," said Manning. "Just jumping into the rush and handling the puck and feeling like a really belong. In other call-ups it was one or two games and it was tough to get that rhythm and I finally found it. Playing more minutes it's a little easier. I feel really confident out there and hopefully it's something I can build on heading into training camp next year.
"I've known all the guys here for four years and it's a real close dressing room. Everyone is always fun to be around so it's a great experience all around."
Manning started the season with the Flyers' AHL affiliate based in Allentown, Pa. In 58 games he picked up 11 goals and 43 points as the Phantoms' leading pointgetter among defencemen. He also collected 150 penalty minutes.
He signed as free agent with the Flyers in November 2010 and has played four seasons in the AHL. He's been called up the Flyers seven times in his career and has five assists in 20 games.
Manning has two assists in the past six games. Over that stretch the Flyers have three wins, two shootout losses and one regulation loss. They went 4-0 against Sydney Crosby and the Penguins this season and have won the past eight games against their cross-state rivals.
"I think of my 20 games, six are against Pittsburgh," Manning said. "It's a big rivalry for us and to play good in those games and contribute, it's nice to beat those guys and it would be nice to see them miss the playoffs as well."
Throughout his hockey career, Manning has developed a reputation for not backing down from the rough stuff and he's always willing to stand up for his teammates. In Thursday's home game against Carolina he fought Brad Malone of the Hurricanes, his first fight in 10 NHL games this season. Manning has averaged seven or eight fights each season as a pro.
"Something we talked about when we decided to re-sign with Philly instead of testing the market was I'm kind of a Philly player and I'm appreciated for the way I play here and that's something I picked up early on in junior," said Manning. "When you're not one of those high-end skill guys you've have to do something else to get noticed and fighting and sticking up for teammates is something I did and it's carried on to my pro career."
On the blueline, the Flyers also have Michael Del Zotto (a restricted free agent still unsigned for 2015-16), Mark Streit, Nick Grossmann, Nick Schultz, Luke Schenn, Andrew MacDonald and Radko Gudas (who is out with a knee injury and hasn't played since December). Manning now ranks seventh on the Flyers' depth chart.
"I've been really impressed with him, even a couple years back when he got into a couple of games," goalie Steve Mason told the Philadelphia Courier-Post. "He's calm out there, moves the puck well. He's got a good shot. I think he's got a real good sense of the game."
Manning is an example for other kids coming out of minor hockey that just because you don't drafted, that doesn't prelude you from making it to the NHL. He's been a free agent for most of his career, ever since he graduated from the WHL with the Chilliwack Bruins as an undrafted defenceman. The son of Leroy and Paula Manning was also bypassed as a 15-year-old in the WHL bantam draft and started his junior career in 2007-08 in the BCHL with the Prince George Spruce Kings, moving on to Chilliwack for another three seasons.
"I'm definitely proud of where I've come from and the way I've come up -- playing junior A and making the jump to the 'Dub and having a couple tryouts and fighting my way through everything -- I've never really had the hype of the draft picks and the high-end skilled guys," Manning said.
"The way I play and the way my game is, I think I've earned a lot of respect from people and I'm glad it's paid off finally. My dad still goes out plays and my grandpa (Leo, a former Prince George Mohawk) are big hockey guys. Tthe way the work away from the rink, my dad (a Prince George firefighter) has a couple side businesses and my grandpa is a carpenter. Those are life skills you learn and something I've carried into hockey with the way I play, competing and never giving up to get to where I am today."
