Texas Stars Add Matt Mangene to Already Crowded Blueline

Mangene (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

Between Dallas and Texas, the Stars are certainly stocked up on defense. They added to that today with an AHL contract for defenseman Matt Mangene. The 27-year old New York native is re-joining Texas for his second full season. He was a utility man at times for Texas last year but managed to pick up 41 games in a Texas sweater.

Now, Texas features a mess of defensemen including Esa Lindell (who could easily be in Dallas as well), Julius Honka, Niklas Hansson (Hansson is headed back to Europe), Mattias Backman, Ludwig Bystrom, Nick Ebert, Andrew Bodnarchuk, Dustin Stevenson and Brandon Anselmini. That's nine plus Mangene for an even 10. Fierce battles are sure to ensue to see who gets on the plane to Boise.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, announced Thursday they have signed defenseman Matt Mangene to an AHL contract for the 2016-17 season.

Mangene, 27, returns for a third season in a Stars uniform. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound utility man has competed both on the blue line and as a forward with 27 points (5-22=27) in 77 career games for Texas. Overall, Mangene (MAN-jeen) has recorded 44 points (13-31=44) in 179 career AHL contests with the Adirondack Phantoms, Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Stars.

The Manorville, New York native originally signed a professional tryout agreement with the Stars on December 20, 2014. He played three years at the University of Maine from 2009-2012.