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Detroit Red Wings Rookie Anthony Mantha Making Strong Case for Roster Spot

By Dalton Jewell

Mar 15, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Anthony Mantha (39) screens Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Red Wings, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Anthony Mantha (39) screens Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Red Wings, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Red Wings Have Been Inconsistent This Season in Terms of Offense. Their Record Currently Stands at 13-12-3 and Their Play Must Improve Moving Forward. Luckily, Rookie Call-up Anthony Mantha is Providing Spark and Grit. Now, Mantha is Out to Prove He Deserves to Stay With the Big Boys.

The Red Wings have scored 66 goals this season, which totals as eight goals less than the NHL average. The Wings have also allowed more goals than the league average at 76 against.

At a time when speedy winger Andreas Athanasiou went down with injury, Anthony Mantha was called up. Offense to replace lost offense and the hope that Mantha would help to ignite a spark. Athanasiou coincidentally was the one who beat Mantha for a roster spot at the end of the 2016-17 preseason.

Andreas Athanasiou

Both players have a different style of game and use what they have to their advantage.

Athanasiou is noted for his speed and therefore using that speed to create offense. This results in breakaways, gathering loose pucks, and even just disrupting the flow of the opposing team.

For his speedy play, Athanasiou had four goals and one assist in 14 games played. All this comes with an average of slightly over 12 minutes of ice time per night

Anthony Mantha

Mantha is notable for being a big body at 6′ 4″ and is used by coach Jeff Blashill in two different ways; either in his shooting role or his body role.

In the body role, Mantha crashes the net and by doing so, provides a large screen to the opposing goaltender. In the shooting role, Mantha uses his booming shot to create rebounds, make great passing plays, and just flat-out scores. He has two more points than Athanasiou, at 4-3-7.

Some would disagree with the fact that Mantha is seeing almost four more minutes of ice time per night than Athanasiou, but Mantha has also found great chemistry with his line. The top line of Tomas Tatar, Henrik Zetterberg, and Mantha has meshed incredibly well and, therefore, puts forward great play.

Moving Forward

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For a team that has struggled to find consistency in its lines, this has been a fabulous find. Even after Athanasiou returned from his injury on Dec. 9, Mantha remained in the lineup. The long-touted prospect is proving that his skill level is beneficial for the team and that he belongs in the NHL.

With the addition of long-injured Tomas Jurco finally returning from his injury, the odd man out has become 4th liner Drew Miller. Miller is a fantastic penalty killer, yet the undeniable and incredible ability of the younger players is forcing veterans out of the Red Wing lineup.

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Whoever is next on the forward front to return from injury, Blashill will have a tough job in deciding who to send down to the minors. Mantha is certainly making a strong case to remain in the NHL and is entertaining many along the way. Hence, the Detroit Red Wings will have a hard time deciding whether the rookie stays or goes.

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