Brandon Manning feels he’s earned an NHL spot

PHILADELPHIA There was a time for most of last season that Brandon Manning thought for sure he’d be testing the free-agent waters.

Called up for two games in the beginning of the season, before the Flyers signed Carlo Colaiacovo off the free-agent scrap heap, Manning went back down to the minors and was an AHL All-Star for the second time in three years.

When the Flyers called him up again — he played the final eight regular-season games — he changed his mind. General manager Ron Hextall offered him a one-way contract to stay in Philadelphia and he took it.

“We kind of talked throughout the year and things weren’t where I want them to be,” Manning said after the Flyers’ 4-2 preseason loss to the New Jersey Devils Wednesday, “and when Mr. Hextall gives you a contract like that I was just kind of happy to take it and have an opportunity to play in the NHL and that’s what he told me at the time. So far he’s proven good with his word and I’m just doing everything I can to stay around here.”

Manning is still in camp as the Flyers have one cut left to make. He’s one of eight defensemen left, all of which have one-way contracts. The Flyers could waive him with the intent of sending him back for a fifth season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and risk losing him, but he’s giving the team reason to worry about that.

“None of us know along the way what’s gonna happen,” Hextall said. “Obviously when you commit to a one-way, you think a guy’s gonna be on your team, but again, we’ve got tough decisions to make here. We’ll see.”

What the Flyers have seen so far from the 25-year-old undrafted defenseman has been good. He tied for the team lead with three shots in Wednesday’s loss, a game that saw goalie Michal Neuvirth removed for precautionary reasons as he’s day-to-day with a “lower-body” injury believed to be a knee issue.

Manning stepped up in the play and covered his bases in front of the Flyers’ net. Rookie coach Dave Hakstol likes what he saw Wednesday and all of camp for Manning, who has 21 games of NHL experience.

“Brandon played another strong, two-way game (Wednesday),” Hakstol said. “I see confidence in him. You see that he’s been a good two-way defender, but you’re starting to see him pick his spots and get up ice. He just looks like he’s a confident player out there.”

There is the chance that the Flyers’ last cut comes to a forward, that they carry 13 players up front and eight on the back end, but that didn’t go so well last season. Defensemen with big contracts were benched and it sure didn’t help them play any better.

Manning feels he’s good enough to be a top-six defensemen, because any lower on the depth chart and it doesn’t much matter if you have a one-way contract or not.

“I’m not stupid. I know what’s going on,” Manning said. “With the guys today, there’s obviously more opportunity. If there’s eight guys and you’re the eighth guy, you’re still not playing, right? You’re hanging around with the NHL guys but you’re still not playing.”

The fact that he’s still here and highly touted prospects like Shayne Gostisbehere, Samuel Morin and Travis Sanheim are not, gives Manning more credence in his thoughts that he’s improved enough to be an NHL player.

“I’ve been a late developer,” Manning admitted. “Even just learning the pro game, I feel a lot better at 25 than I did two or three years ago. I think it’s a process and for me it’s probably been a longer than most guys.”

Another thing helping Manning’s cause is how Hakstol uses defensemen offensively. The former Chilliwack Bruin had 11 goals and 43 points in 60 games for the Phantoms last season.

“Even in the past couple of games here, Hak’s kind of pushing the pace with the D men in the O zone,” Manning said, “and I think that pays off for me, especially because I feel a little more confident this year jumping out in the rush and making plays in the offensive zone. I think the more things I can bring to my game, whether that’s physical or offense, the more valuable I’ll be.”

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479; disaac@gannettnj.com .