Anthony Mantha
The Detroit Red Wings along with its fan base have hopes Anthony Mantha will excel this up and coming season. Recently signed to a 3.3 million per season bridge deal, Mantha led the Red Wings with 24 goals last season, also would add 24 helpers to total 48 points.
Mantha in his second full season with the Red Wings demonstrated the potential is there for him to become a 30 goal regular in the NHL. Mantha played 60 games two seasons ago for Detroit scoring 17 times before his season would come to an end after breaking his hand in late March during a fight, with now teammate Luke Witkowski.
Anthony Mantha is Detroit’s greatest current goal scoring threat notching 9 of his 24 on the power-play last season, look for Mantha to have his sights set on 30 goals this season.
In his final two seasons of junior hockey, Mantha eclipsed the 50 goal mark both years. It, of course, doesn’t always translate to the show, but Mantha has certainly shown flashes at this level.
Detroit needs to play their younger scoring threat players more this season, and Mantha would benefit from a couple of extra five on five shifts each night. He was only asked to play just over 17 minutes a night last season.
That’s on Blashill; there is no reason why Anthony Mantha isn’t playing around 20 minutes each and every night. The Wings drafted Mantha to be a power forward who can score. Playing those six extra shifts a game should translate to more scoring opportunities five on five and reward the Red Wings with a thirty goal scorer.
Set to indulge in his third regular season as a Detroit Red Wing, this just might be the time for Anthony Mantha to break-out and really take an excellent step forward and finally be relied upon more often.