Potential 30 Goal achievers for the Detroit Red Wings
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.
Dylan Larkin
The future captain of the Detroit Red Wings signed a five-year contract extension last week worth 6.1 million per season. The significant pay raise means his production is expected to continue to increase moving forward.
Dylan Larkin who led all Detroit forwards in ice time last season capitalized by leading the team in points with 63. 63 points, but only converted 16 goals on his 232 shots on net.
Larkin has a lot of room for improvement in the goal-scoring category. A shooting percentage of only 6.9% is way down from his two previous seasons. His rookie season, Larkin converted 10.4% of his shots into goals.
Two seasons ago in his second season, Larkin had a “down” year finding himself slumping and struggling often, but still managed to score on 9.6% of his shots.
It’s simple math, if Larkin could have converted at a rate he has shown in the past last year he would have scored 23 times. Larkin averaged 2.8 shots a game last season; he must make a conscious effort to shoot the puck more often, get more shots through traffic.
If Dylan Larkin can find a way to record 3.65 shots or more a game, he should end up around that 30 goal mark for the Red Wings. 30 goals, 50 assists totaling 80 points for the number one center and best player on the roster, in today’s NHL would be an excellent stat line.
The Michigan native and one time stand-out player for the Michigan Wolverines now finds himself the face of his favorite childhood NHL team.
Dylan Larkin will be asked to shoulder the franchise moving forward; he seems like he’s ready to embrace the role and we should expect improvements in all areas of his game.
Andreas Athanasiou
The speedy, dynamic playmaker for the Detroit Red Wings has yet to reach his full potential. Athanasiou often finds himself breaking away from defenders using his world-class speed to create his own scoring chances.
Athanasiou who turned 24 years of age a couple of weeks ago is set to start his third full season as a regular with the Wings. The same theory applies to double-A as it does to Mantha. Hopefully a big step forward as a pro entering his third full season.
Athanasiou found himself in Blashill’s doghouse on many different occasions. The reasoning often explained by the head coach related to lacking defensive responsibilities. AA only averaged 15:19 minutes per game which is WAY to low for a player with this much potential.
Double-A, found himself often losing out on minutes to players like Luke Glendening, and Darren Helm, Blashill cannot continue to do this and expect players to develop quickly.
Last season Athanasiou recorded 16 goals, 33 points in 71 contests. The numbers are to low for a player of his talent & potential. He only recorded 170 shots on goal, that’s only 2.39 shots per game, similar to Larkin much to low.
Another reason why coach Jeff Blashill needs to change his philosophy and play these talented players more than he has liked to in the past. More ice time for the top 6 and even the top 9 forwards equals more shots from the top of your line-up, which translates to more scoring chances.
Two seasons ago double-A recorded 18 goals in 64 games. The goal production dipped some last year, but Athanasiou is more of a scorer than a facilitator. Andreas has the potential to become a 30 goal scorer for the Detroit Red Wings.
Andreas needs to commit to on the defensive side of his game to begrudgingly show Blashill he is not a liability. Blashill will in turn allocate more ice time and hopefully, Athanasiou rewards the franchise with better offensive numbers.
Michael Rasmussen
Coming off of back to back 30 plus goal seasons for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Michael Rasmussen is a candidate to become a 30 goal scorer in the future for the Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit drafted Rasmussen 9th overall in the 2017 NHL draft.
Rasmussen was hampered early last season needing wrist surgery that would cost him a good chunk of games. He would total 47 games scoring 31 goals notching 59 points in the regular season.
Get this though, last season in the WHL postseason Rasmussen shined bright. In 14 playoff games, Rasmussen scored 16 goals and added 17 assists for 33 points.
We can’t expect 30 plus goals right away from the 6 foot 6 center, but it will be something to hope for in the future. Expect Rasmussen to start on the wing this season as a top 9 forward, rather than his natural center spot.
Moving the big fella to the wing protects him a bit defensively. Playing down the middle commands constant reliability in the defensive zone and sometimes young players aren’t quite ready for that responsibility. It’s nice to play young players on the wing until they get their feet wet and show they belong at the NHL level.
Someone needs to sit down with Ken Holland and Jeff Blashill and remind them they cannot bring Michael Rasmussen to the Detroit Red Wings and play him on the 4th line or scratch him. In turn, wasting valuable development time just sitting on the end of the bench playing 8 minutes a night or in the press box watching.
Rasmussen needs to be returned to junior if for some reason he doesn’t make the Red Wings out of camp. We don’t see that happening unless he has a very ugly camp (unlikely) or unless an injury occurs during the camp/preseason.
Evgeny Svechnikov
The young Russian forward Svechnikov has yet to show he will remain an NHL regular. Svechnikov was recalled by the Wings last season to compete in 14 contests he scored two goals and added two assists for a measly 4 points.
Svechnikov often found himself playing around 8 minutes of hockey a night. That again is the “Blashill” treatment of young players. How can a goal scorer get into a groove playing so few minutes?
Svechnikov would have been better suited playing 20 minutes a night in Grand Rapids working on the areas of his game that needs improvement. If you are going to call these kids up you, need to PLAY them.
Evgeny will turn 22 years old this October and is expected to compete for one of the last available roster spots. Evgeny is the older brother of this year’s 2nd overall draft selection, Andrei. Some people suggest Carolina may be interested in pairing Evgeny up with Andrei if Detroit decided to listen to trade offers on Evgeny.
Evgeny played his junior hockey in the QMJHL for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. In his two seasons, he recorded 32 goals each year. Svechnikov ended with 78 points and 79 points respectively. Detroit drafted Svechnikov 19th overall in 2015 expecting a scoring threat eventually at the NHL level.
Two seasons ago, in his first full professional season, Svechnikov for Grand Rapids recorded 51 points in 74 games. Scoring 20 goals for the Griffins was a real positive for the franchise. Last season things went much differently. Svechnikov often found struggling, he was slumping and suddenly couldn’t produce at the level he once had shown.
Last season for the Griffins Svechnikov played 57 games and was only able to score seven times. Svechnikov is about as dark as you can be for a dark horse but has a scorer shot. He’s shown in the past his ability to score, and it has yet to translate to the NHL level.
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Evgeny needs to prove he can provide regular goal scoring again at Grand Rapids before getting top 9 forward shifts in Detroit. He’s young enough, with enough offensive ability that you can’t just give up on him yet.
Detroit will hope last season was a fluke, the scoring touch returns and down the road Svechnikov can become a 30 goal scorer, living up to his full potential.
Filip Zadina
The 6th overall selection in this past NHL Entry Level Draft Filip Zadina will be a 30 goal scorer in the future for the Detroit Red Wings.
Filip Zadina fell into the Red Wings lap, and Ken Holland made the right choice not passing on a talent like this. Zadina may be that franchise changing player in the next couple of seasons. Zadina often found in the Alexander Ovechkin office waiting for a one-timer to drive home.
The 18-year-old Czech forward scored 44 times last season for the Halifax Mooseheads. Detroit is expecting Zadina’s talent to translate right into an NHL talent. Ken Holland needs to move a few forwards out-of-town to ensure Zadina starts right away in Detroit.
Zadina, unlike Rasmussen, he doesn’t need to be returned to junior if he doesn’t make the Red Wings roster. Zadina could merely be sent to Grand Rapids if he’s unable to make the Red Wings to start the season.
That comes as a little bit of unfortunate news; it just gives Ken Holland an alibi to send Zadina to the AHL clearing the way for someone else to play in Detroit instead. Scouting reports suggest Zadina’s sniper ability is NHL ready.
If Detroit could play Zadina alongside Zetterberg if Z is indeed able to play it would really benefit Filip. If Henrik is unable to return due to a back injury, Zadina may benefit the most on a line with Frans Nielsen. Nielsen is in need of a scoring winger on his line, and Nielsen also behind Zetterberg, the most reliable 2-way center on the Detroit Red Wings.
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The future is bright up front for the Detroit Red Wings, a line we can expect to see when the time comes, for many years to come will be Zadina, Larkin, Mantha. All three players are potentially 30 goal regulars.