Detroit Red Wings Double Standard With Anthony Mantha

Detroit Red Wings executive Jim Devellano has some harsh words about 2013 first-round pick Anthony Mantha and his performance this season for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL. The question I have is why are we hearing about them?

Devellano let the following fly about the hopefully future Detroit Red Wings forward. Tell us how you really feel, Jim:

"“Very, very, very disappointing,” said Devellano, per FOX Sports Detroit. “And I say that with a lot of sadness. Coming out of junior, we had such high hopes for him.” ProHockey Talk"

I don’t have any problem with an executive, coach, owner or otherwise being critical of a player. Much time and many resources go into evaluating a player before a draft and developing that player to their highest potential. If Mantha isn’t reaching that yet and is behind the learning curve a firmer hand could be necessary.

I take issue with the comments two ways. First, referring to your hopes about Mantha in the past tense is absurd. It implies at 20-years old Mantha is a bust. Do you want a list of players that age that haven’t adjusted to the next professional level quickly? You don’t have time to read it.

Mantha was hoped to make the Detroit Red Wings right out of training camp but those hopes were dashed when he broke his leg in September. How much that injury played into his tough season only Mantha knows for sure. Missing that much ice time isn’t good for player development.

Second, why can an executive get away with making these comments about a player? Aren’t comments like this supposed to stay in the Detroit Red Wings locker room? Is embarrassing a player in public like this the best way to motivate them?

Ask Joe Thornton about the situation in San José. After GM Doug Wilson kept poking at Thornton after taking the “C” off his sweater, the veteran finally fired back and took some heat for it. Why can executives get away with being critical of players, but when the tables get turned the player takes all the heat?

Devellano might be right. If that’s his opinion he has more hockey sense than most people and his résumé with the Detroit Red Wings speaks for itself. He shouldn’t be telling the cameras. This is feedback that Mantha needs in person with head coach Mike Babcock and GM Ken Holland.

While I don’t see this playing out the same way it did in San José, it’s interesting to see tension coming from such a successful franchise. The Wings are thin on defense in the prospect ranks which helps explain why Dion Phaneuf keeps coming up in trade rumors. Mike Babcock is not yet under contract and the focus of rumors about his future. Despite a tough first-round series, all is apparently not well in Detroit.

The rumor mill will continue to swirl even around highly successful teams like the Detroit Red Wings. Executives need to be aware of comments they make to the media which fuel rumors unnecessarily. And if they have an issue with the player, address the player directly. Not a third-party microphone.

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