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

[Circulartheory]

I don't think there are many who have seen both play. I haven't, but from what I've hard of Lazar, he's the better two way guy. As far as shooting goes though, it will be hard to beat Mantha. He can score so many different ways. Uses his size to play the angles. If the goaltender squares up to the body, Mantha shoots it using his wingspan. If the goaltender squares up to the puck, he'll deke you.

I'm more curious pairing him up with Jason Dickinson of Guelph. More similar players, though I think Mantha is the better of the two.

Reason I asked is because scoring is greatly valued on draft day, not to mention size and skating. Although I've read that Mantha needs to work to round off his game, it sounds like he already has these 3 highly valued skills in the bag.

ATM, he isn't in many top 30s, so my question is, is there potential for him to be picked in the top 15 BECAUSE it sounds like he has elite talent in 3 highly valued characteristics.

 

[HuGort]

I don't think there are many who have seen both play. I haven't, but from what I've hard of Lazar, he's the better two way guy. As far as shooting goes though, it will be hard to beat Mantha. He can score so many different ways. Uses his size to play the angles. If the goaltender squares up to the body, Mantha shoots it using his wingspan. If the goaltender squares up to the puck, he'll deke you.

I'm more curious pairing him up with Jason Dickinson of Guelph. More similar players, though I think Mantha is the better of the two.

Dickinson almost a full year younger, 10 months.

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

So who do people think will be the better prospect? Mantha or Lazar? Both are scorers, both can skate; Mantha has the size while Lazar has the motor.

Not a fair comparison, different players IMO.

 

[Rise from the Ashes]

Depends on what you want. I think Mantha probably has a higher ceiling offensively.

 

[Circulartheory]

Not a fair comparison, different players IMO.

I fully understand its unfair because of the styles, but I am making my own personal rankings, and agree or disagree with me, I have Lazar at around 10-12. And with rankings, you have different players with different styles.

I haven't seen Mantha play but from everything I read and hear, he has elite scorer, great size, and great skating. All of these things are the makings of a top 15 pick. So I'm wondering where to put him on my rankings.

 

[Canovin]

What position does this kid play?

 

[insider]

What position does this kid play?

Right wing.

 

[Leviathan]

Strange how these guys seemingly come out of nowhere in their draft year. He did have a decent season last year but he's just exploded.

 

[Circulartheory]

Strange how these guys seemingly come out of nowhere in their draft year. He did have a decent season last year but he's just exploded.

Well, a few did consider him top 30 because of his size and skating. The only difference is, now he is starting to add goal-scoring to that combination.

The trifecta of a top draft pick.

 

[hab 4ever]

Strange how these guys seemingly come out of nowhere in their draft year. He did have a decent season last year but he's just exploded.

Actually, he came into his own in the second half last year. He had 11 points in his first 40 QMJHL games. Since January 2012, and including 4 playoff games, he has 37 goals-36 assists-73 points in 45 games but he definitely took it up a notch this year (29 points in 16 games). His main flaw coming into this year was consistency, given how he sorta had two seasons in 1 last year but he has been productive night in, night out on an average Val-d'Or. Like he and Carrier are not enjoying the linemates/power-play mates that Erne, Duclair, Drouin and MacKinnon enjoy.

 

[insider]

Actually, he came into his own in the second half last year. He had 11 points in his first 40 QMJHL games. Since January 2012, and including 4 playoff games, he has 37 goals-36 assists-73 points in 45 games but he definitely took it up a notch this year (29 points in 16 games). His main flaw coming into this year was consistency, given how he sorta had two seasons in 1 last year but he has been productive night in, night out on an average Val-d'Or. Like he and Carrier are not enjoying the linemates/power-play mates that Erne, Duclair, Drouin and MacKinnon enjoy.

I've always been one of the biggest Mantha backers, but he does have the top scorer from last season's Memorial Cup winners on his line. Zlobin scored 40 last year... He and Beaudry give him a decent line to work with, unlike Carrier who was playing with Beaton and Corriveau at one point this season.

 

[hab 4ever]

I've always been one of the biggest Mantha backers, but he does have the top scorer from last season's Memorial Cup winners on his line. Zlobin scored 40 last year... He and Beaudry give him a decent line to work with, unlike Carrier who was playing with Beaton and Corriveau at one point this season.

I must concur that Carrier is by far the worst off one in terms of linemates. That being said, I have only watched two and a half Foreurs games this year, but I don't think Zlobin and Mantha play on same line (although they do on power-play). I have seen Mantha-Beaudry on one line and Zlobin-Dunn on the other with each line having one Henley.

 

[hototogisu]

I must concur that Carrier is by far the worst off one in terms of linemates. That being said, I have only watched two and a half Foreurs games this year, but I don't think Zlobin and Mantha play on same line (although they do on power-play). I have seen Mantha-Beaudry on one line and Zlobin-Dunn on the other with each line having one Henley.

I watched Mantha's 4-goal game against Rimouski the other day and he was playing with Beaudry and Zlobin.

I think Zlobin picked up a primary assist on 3 of his 4 goals too.

 

[Aaron Vickers]

Mantha had a heck of a month and was named our draft eligible forward of the month for October:

Future Considerations announced today that Anthony Mantha of the Val d’Or Foreurs has been named Ferda Hockey draft eligible Forward of the Month for October.

http://futureconsiderations.ca/mantha-named-ferda-hockeys-fc-forward-of-the-month/

 

[Gritty]

Big game for Mantha tonight.

3G - 1A

 

[WildcatMapleLeafs28]

Watched him play both in Moncton and PEI. He did very well statistically however was invisible most of the Moncton game. In PEI, you couldn't miss him. He is a player that is either on(most of the time) or off which shows he may tend to be inconsistent. Tonight he played great. Shot the puck, generated lots of chances(mostly dangerous ones too), skated well and was hard to knock off the puck. He was the first player back to help out the defence, which I really liked, and got in the dirty areas. He really likes to shoot and has a nose for the net. Quite of a few shots from in close. He'll be a mid to late first round pick , like between 18-30.

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

He would have been draft eligible in 2012 if he was born a day earlier. Where do you guys think he would have gone if he was drafted in 2012?

 

[Gritty]

Does anyone watch him play enough to give an NHL comparable style?

 

[insider]

Does anyone watch him play enough to give an NHL comparable style?

I mentioned the James Neal comparable a while ago and it's been the generally accepted comparable for him

 

[Juxtaposer]

He would have been draft eligible in 2012 if he was born a day earlier. Where do you guys think he would have gone if he was drafted in 2012?

That's the concerning thing about Mantha to me. He's almost a full year older than guys like Mackinnon and Barkov.

 

[Gritty]

That's the concerning thing about Mantha to me. He's almost a full year older than guys like Mackinnon and Barkov.

Do you think this is a big contributor for his "low" draft rankings on most sites? One would assume a big framed kid scoring well over a PPG (almost a GPG) would be highly sought after. It seems like he is in the 25-35 range despite tearing up the Q.

I know it's still early in the year, but I find he's rarely talked about in 2013 draft discussion..

_________

Also there is only 1 month separating the age between Mantha and Shinkurak? Is the love for Shinkurak due to his amazing season last year with 49 goals?

 

[Analyzer*]

My guess is no since Moe Mantha is American.

Not really a thing. Mark Tinordi is Canadian, but his son (Jarred) is American.
Alex Galchenyuk Sr. may have been Belorussian, but his son, Alex Jr was born in American.

Thomas Steen was born in Sweden, but Alex was born in Winnipeg.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Do you think this is a big contributor for his "low" draft rankings on most sites? One would assume a big framed kid scoring well over a PPG (almost a GPG) would be highly sought after. It seems like he is in the 25-35 range despite tearing up the Q.

I know it's still early in the year, but I find he's rarely talked about in 2013 draft discussion..

_________

Also there is only 1 month separating the age between Mantha and Shinkurak? Is the love for Shinkurak due to his amazing season last year with 49 goals?

I'd say yes to both of your questions.

Age is a big factor when it comes to drafting IMHO. If Mantha were 2012 eligible, he's a mid-rounder.

Also the Shinkaruk. What he did at age 17 in the Dub was amazing. Mantha's 17 year old season wasn't so amazing.

 

[arsmaster*]

That's the concerning thing about Mantha to me. He's almost a full year older than guys like Mackinnon and Barkov.

yet less than a month older than Monahan.

 

[Juxtaposer]

yet less than a month older than Monahan.

The difference is that Monahan put up just as impressive numbers in his 17 year old season. He scored 78 points in 62 games compared to Mantha's 51 points in 63 games.

I do like Mantha. But the fact that his 17 year old season was nothing special should be worrying to scouts. That's all.