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LW Anthony Mantha (2013, 20th, DET) II

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gretskidoo said:
Detroit drafted that many guys that made the NHL immediately in his draft year, huh? Must've missed them.
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Must've missed where you typed "Detroit prospects" instead of just "prospects". Anyhoo, I'll be kinda surprised if Mantha doesn't get some seasoning in the AHL first; because it's Detroit, and because he isn't Datsyuk or Zetterberg.
 
Ohashi_Jouzu said:
Besides the 6 or so guys from his own draft year who have already appeared on NHL ice, right? ;)
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Ohashi_Jouzu said:
Must've missed where you typed "Detroit prospects" instead of just "prospects". Anyhoo, I'll be kinda surprised if Mantha doesn't get some seasoning in the AHL first; because it's Detroit, and because he isn't Datsyuk or Zetterberg.
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That was about Detroit prospects, hence 90% of the post being about other Detroit players and Detroit's system.
 
To be fair, Mantha could've probable made the NHL rosters on weaker teams. Or some teams that like rushing their prospects.
 
The Zermanator said:
I will concede that Mantha has the best shot of any prospect in years of jumping straight to the NHL. However, there's a reason why Detroit utilizes the same system throughout their organization. They want their players to be able to fit in and contribute once they get a shot on the big club. They do that by teaching the system in lower leagues so the players know it once they come to Detroit.

There are a few exceptions:

- Injuries

- You have guys like DeKeyser who come straight in due to a desperate situation (like we had on D last season), but offense is not an area of need next season.

- Then you have guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg, who skip the AHL because they are budding elite talents. That will be Mantha's ticket if he is to play in the NHL regularly next season. But unless he gets a shot and produces so well (I'm thinking at least .5 PPG) that he forces their hand, he will be in the AHL where he'll learn the Wings' system.
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I don't disagree with a lot of what you say. Two points however. The first being, to be fair, the Wings haven't had guys who were on a fast track to the league. They've had to develop. The second being, and what my major point has been in this thread, guys like Mantha are better suited to learn at the NHL level as he relies on finding openings and playing in lanes. Two things he's going to have to adjust to whether it's 2014 or 2015. I will agree that due to numbers, he might play some in the AHL. I will also say however, the team was 16th in scoring this year and has had horrible stretches getting pucks to the net and on their PP in general.
 
According to the QMJHL website Mantha is 9/14 on faceoffs tonight. 3rd most taken on his team.

Has he been playing center, or what's going on here?
 
AD1066 said:
According to the QMJHL website Mantha is 9/14 on faceoffs tonight. 3rd most taken on his team.

Has he been playing center, or what's going on here?
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They've been playing center by comittee with Henley and Marcotte for quite some time now. Mantha used to simply take the draw and go back to wing. But I'd say since his return from the U20, he's been playing center a lot more often. He's been put into defensive situations, taking draws in the d-zone and everything and has improved his defensive game by a good amount.
 
Mathletic said:
They've been playing center by comittee with Henley and Marcotte for quite some time now. Mantha used to simply take the draw and go back to wing. But I'd say since his return from the U20, he's been playing center a lot more often. He's been put into defensive situations, taking draws in the d-zone and everything and has improved his defensive game by a good amount.
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Great to hear, and thanks for all the updates.

Much appreciated by those of us who don't watch many games at that level.
 
So how has the Mantha vs. Drouin battle been? Are they matching up against each other? Is either clearly outplaying the other? Haven't been able to catch any games.
 
Petes2424 said:
I don't disagree with a lot of what you say. Two points however. The first being, to be fair, the Wings haven't had guys who were on a fast track to the league. They've had to develop. The second being, and what my major point has been in this thread, guys like Mantha are better suited to learn at the NHL level as he relies on finding openings and playing in lanes. Two things he's going to have to adjust to whether it's 2014 or 2015. I will agree that due to numbers, he might play some in the AHL. I will also say however, the team was 16th in scoring this year and has had horrible stretches getting pucks to the net and on their PP in general.
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Not sure I completely agree. He relies on finding lanes sure, but that can be worked on and adjusted from Junior to pro in the AHL to keep fine tuning all of the other parts of his game that need work. I dont think developing his goal scoring ability right away should be the focus cause thats what comes natural. He can work on it at the AHL level while really developing his defensive game and adjusting to playing men.

If he comes into camp and is dominant, sure let him play from the get go or give him a cup of coffee to see what hes got for a few reg season games but he doesnt have to be in the NHL to learn the game. AHL with plenty of NHL call ups is probably the best bet really
 
The Nose said:
So how has the Mantha vs. Drouin battle been? Are they matching up against each other? Is either clearly outplaying the other? Haven't been able to catch any games.
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Up until today they haven't been matched against one another per say. Since Val d'Or took the lead in the three games games, Drouin is playing once every two shifts, so they'll face one another from time to time. Mantha's line was matched by the Ryan-Andrews-Ashley/Ehlers line. It looks like Ducharme will stay away from that matchup as they aren't able to stop Val d'Or's big line.

That said, in the two games in Halifax I can't say one was clearly better. Both were in different situations. I thought Mantha just did his job. Created some offense, jumped to the early lead and kept Halifax from coming back. Drouin was mostly visible on PP and 6-5 situations late in the game. He really didn't do much 5 on 5.

I watched part of the game tonight. Again Val d'Or jumped to the early lead. Halifax just didn't have answers for Mantha. Even Drouin's line couldn't keep the puck away. From that point on, Val d'Or went on cruise control. Drouin didn't do much for about half the game but from that point was lights out. Val d'Or helped his cause making some bad turnovers. I mean, Gélinas forced the play way too much at times and got burned on a bad pinch late in the game leaving Drouin and Ehlers on a 2 on 1. Henley also fumbled the puck after a great defensive play sending Drouin again on a 2 on 1.

In the end it's a team's game and Drouin has to come from behind and Mantha with the lead. So, both are asked to do different things. Both players play a different style. Drouin will force the play a lot more and find guys open. Mantha slows the game down, lets the play come to him, lets guys get open and then find the open man. Mantha has done a better job getting open to score goals. He also picked Drouin off on a couple occasions with his long reach. That said, Drouin has all the talent in the world. When he's on, he's hard to stop.
 
Mantha just hit Darcy Ashley after the whistle. Ashley was bent over and Mantha came from behind and hit him in the head, looked like an elbow but hard to tell because Mantha is a giant. Got a penalty for "checking to the head" and the commentators said that the tape will be sent to the league.
 
Kurdt Kobain said:
Mantha just hit Darcy Ashley after the whistle. Ashley was bent over and Mantha came from behind and hit him in the head, looked like an elbow but hard to tell because Mantha is a giant. Got a penalty for "checking to the head" and the commentators said that the tape will be sent to the league.
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Didnt get suspended because he had 2 goals last night, up to 17 goals in 15 playoff games.

How does he look compared to Drouin for anyone who has been watching? Based on the scoring it would seem like Mantha has had a better series
 
newfy said:
Didnt get suspended because he had 2 goals last night, up to 17 goals in 15 playoff games.

How does he look compared to Drouin for anyone who has been watching? Based on the scoring it would seem like Mantha has had a better series
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One of the big differences between the two is when they don't have the puck.

Drouin often tries to get the puck, Mantha often waits for someone to get it to him. His talent is incredible, but he still goes invisible sometimes.
 
bigdirty said:
One of the big differences between the two is when they don't have the puck.

Drouin often tries to get the puck, Mantha often waits for someone to get it to him. His talent is incredible, but he still goes invisible sometimes.
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I disagree. IMO Drouin is having a much more uneven series. He has had some higher highs but also had lower lows. Definately looks dangerous on the PP at all time but has been very quiet at even strength save for 2 or 3 periods in Val d'Or. Mantha has been much more effective at retrieving the puck than Drouin has been. Mantha has forced quite a few turnovers in the offensive zone. Last game he must have picked off Drouin on at least 3 occasions. In the first two games he cut a bunch of passes in the defensive end to clear the zone and has contained Drouin for the most part when the two faced one another.

You might notice Drouin more in this series, then again it's debatable, but a lot it is on the outside. Gadoury has been much more dangerous at ES than Drouin because he's forcing plays from the slot. Drouin isn't creating many scoring chances, let alone retrieving the puck. I don't see him being that much of a force in that aspect of the game. At least, 5 on 5.
 
bigdirty said:
One of the big differences between the two is when they don't have the puck.

Drouin often tries to get the puck, Mantha often waits for someone to get it to him. His talent is incredible, but he still goes invisible sometimes.
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Have you been watching the series or just basing this off of rumors you heard of Mantha in the past?

Mantha has actually been having an excellent series when it comes to his defensive play. He's 100% out played Drouin so far this series.
 
I haven't seen much of Mantha over the past few years, so I don't exactly know how he plays... but over the last few games I've noticed he's been waiting for stretch passes quite a few times. Obviously I doubt he plays like this every game, but it has been happening.

I don't think Mantha has "100% outplayed" Drouin, but he's been the better offensive player. Sure Drouin has more points in the series, but that's because of a 5-point night. Mantha has been crazy consistent and brilliant when it comes to getting to the net to deflect pucks (he has at least 3 goals from it).

In terms of defensive play, I haven't really noticed either of them. In last nights game Drouin gave the puck away but raced back and stopped the scoring chance. I also remember seeing him steal the puck a few times in the Halifax end. I don't remember seeing Mantha do anything like that, but that's because I'm not exactly paying FULL attention when Val-d'Or has the puck. I'm focusing on OUR players and how we play. I won't say Mantha hasn't done anything like that, but I just don't remember seeing it.
 
newfy said:
Didnt get suspended because he had 2 goals last night, up to 17 goals in 15 playoff games.

How does he look compared to Drouin for anyone who has been watching? Based on the scoring it would seem like Mantha has had a better series
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Darcy ended up being fine after the hit, and considering past incidents (not Halifax/Val-d'Or alone) injuries seem to be the reasoning for any discipline.
 
nbwingsfan said:
Have you been watching the series or just basing this off of rumors you heard of Mantha in the past?

Mantha has actually been having an excellent series when it comes to his defensive play. He's 100% out played Drouin so far this series.
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Yes I have been watching the series. Thanks for the intelligent question. So the Red Wings fan thinks Mantha has 100% outplayed Drouin huh?

No need to get all bent out of shape. I never said Mantha is a bad player or has been having a bad series. The flaws in his game that made him drop in the draft last year are still present to a degree. That's not exactly unexpected. He's having a great playoffs, and he's still guilty of floating around the ice sometimes. Not a big deal.
 
bigdirty said:
One of the big differences between the two is when they don't have the puck.

Drouin often tries to get the puck, Mantha often waits for someone to get it to him. His talent is incredible, but he still goes invisible sometimes.
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Having been in the stands for 3 of the 5 games so far (on top of seasons' worth of following the league), you're right, they're wrong. Mantha hardly touches the puck inside his own side of the red line, and is pretty much always the first forward leaving the zone on the rush. Neutral zone execution in the Q in general isn't that great, so most of the pucks don't even get to him, and it's not like you'll see him put his head down to get back the other way; not like Drouin, or anyone on the Mooseheads, honestly. But damn, any time he gets enough space to get any kind of a shot off, you think it's going to go in. Probably finishes less of his checking opportunities than anyone his size that you'll see around the league, though.
 
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