LW Anthony Mantha - Val d'Or, QMJHL (2013, 20th overall, Detroit)

[Michael Brand Eggs]

I cant help but feel hes putting up points and scoring like a monster due to being physically superior to his peers. I have no doubts he'll make the nhl, but im totally unsure if his offensive prowess will really translate. I feel like he may end up as a frustrating Chris Stewart type player.

I'm not sure this is a fair criticism. I mean, the guy scored 50 goals last year too. The year before that, he played on the u-18 team. He's been doing well for some time now, and he certainly hasn't been physically superior to his age group for all of that time.

Hell, I'm not sure there's any reason to believe he's really physically superior now. He didn't look ready to handle NHL defensemen during the preseason. He might be tall, but he's still pretty skinny.

I think this is a weird way of making his size out to be a negative for him. If he weren't so big, we wouldn't be able to doubt that he uses his size to his advantage. Of course, if he weren't so big, we'd also wish that he were 6'4 and could use his size to his advantage... It's like he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

 

[theIceWookie]

Well by physical dominance i mean his ability to shield the puck and outmuscle teenagers. He wont be able to do that against grown men in the NHL. Will need to adjust in the ahl for at least a season or two.

Why wouldn't he be able to? He's not going to just shrink, and at 6 foot 4 he's still going to be a fair bit bigger than the majority of NHL players. He'll definitely have to put on muscle like any NHL propsect making the jump, but his ability to shield the puck is a very transferable skill.

 

[newfy]

Why wouldn't he be able to? He's not going to just shrink, and at 6 foot 4 he's still going to be a fair bit bigger than the majority of NHL players. He'll definitely have to put on muscle like any NHL propsect making the jump, but his ability to shield the puck is a very transferable skill.

The Val D'or website has him listed at 6'5 now too, whether or not thats true is up for debate but it makes me think hes grown at least a bit and hes up over 200 lbs now. I would say with his frame he needs to be in the 220lb range at least for NHL hockey.

 

[Mathletic]

The Val D'or website has him listed at 6'5 now too, whether or not thats true is up for debate but it makes me think hes grown at least a bit and hes up over 200 lbs now. I would say with his frame he needs to be in the 220lb range at least for NHL hockey.

Central scouting had him at 6'4, so he may be 6'4.5, Val d'Or rounds up to 6'5 and CSS to 6'4. He looks like he's 200 as well.

 

[newfy]

Central scouting had him at 6'4, so he may be 6'4.5, Val d'Or rounds up to 6'5 and CSS to 6'4. He looks like he's 200 as well.

Hes listed at 6'5, 204 lbs on their site. And what you said is kind of what I was thniking, I highly doubt he grew another inch but he probably is at least a solid 6'4 without a doubt, maybe a bit taller. 6'5ish and his skating ability is a pretty scary combo, hard to believe he fell to the wings

 

[newfy]

Another goal and assist last night with the second star. His team is on a roll he might not end up traded at the dead line

 

[Debrincat93]

Detroit isn't good at developing at all. You guys are all overrating Holland and Babcock.

I hope this is sarcasm.

 

[InjuredChoker]

I hope this is sarcasm.

His point is that since Det hasn't drafted and developed legit top 4 D or top 6 F for 9 years, they aren't really good at it. As there arguably is talent for it. One in pressbox/4th line and one in AHL.

 

[kyle44]

2 goals 3 assists tonight. He now has 23 points in 8 games, including 13 goals.

 

[Doc5]

2 goals 3 assists tonight. He now has 23 points in 8 games, including 13 goals.

Almost 3ppg

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

I keep expecting him to cool off. Kid is on fire.

 

[Wingsfan2965*]

I keep expecting him to cool off. Kid is on fire.

I'm not. Unfortunately I think the downside to this is a year wasted as he doesn't appear to be challenged at all.

I supposed he could use it to refine poor spots of his game, but I'd still like to see him challenged a bit more.

 

[drw02]

I'm not. Unfortunately I think the downside to this is a year wasted as he doesn't appear to be challenged at all.

I supposed he could use it to refine poor spots of his game, but I'd still like to see him challenged a bit more.

You think Mantha should have made the Red Wings? He can't play in the AHL till next year. What did you want them to do?

 

[tfong]

You think Mantha should have made the Red Wings? He can't play in the AHL till next year. What did you want them to do?

Not sign Cleary?

 

[Tomas W]

2 goals 3 assists tonight. He now has 23 points in 8 games, including 13 goals.

Hopefully Cleary has retired when he's due for NHL service.

 

[bossram]

Good thing Mantha's scoring. That should accelerate his path to the NHL. At this rate we should see him around 2020 with the Wings.

 

[Wingsfan2965*]

Not sign Cleary?

Don't even get me started...

 

[zeropotentate]

I didn't see him in the Red Wing's training camp, but it seems to me they should have at least tried him out for 9 games

 

[Wingsfan2965*]

I didn't see him in the Red Wing's training camp, but it seems to me they should have at least tried him out for 9 games

The conclusion that drw02 immediately jumped to was that I was saying he should be in the NHL. He shouldn't, however I was pointing out that I believe this year in the Q is going to be a waste for him because nobody will be challenging him.

No way he should be in the NHL right now, especially not while Nyquist and Tatar aren't. Which is a whole different rant that I don't even want to get started on...

 

[Patmac40]

It's a good thing he can play in the AHL next year.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

He is definitely way too good for the Q now... in any other NHL team, he would have made the opening day roster.

 

[Pi]

He is definitely way too good for the Q now... in any other NHL team, he would have made the opening day roster.

He will be on the Wings roster by 2017 or 2018.

 

[Wingsfan2965*]

He will be on the Wings roster by 2017 or 2018.

Yeah, because Detroit definitely plays every player as soon as they're NHL ready.

 

[SlavaKozlov]

He is definitely way too good for the Q now... in any other NHL team, he would have made the opening day roster.

Tampa Bay sent the #3 overall pick back to the Q...

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Tampa Bay sent the #3 overall pick back to the Q...

I don't think Drouin had a good enough camp with Tampa.

Mantha is also older and bigger.