Anthony Mantha has learned quite a bit writes the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James. She writes that his rise in scoring is tied to his work ethic, which included an improvement to his skating and notes that the 23-year-old hasn’t gone more than three games without a goal. Paired with 21-year-old Dylan Larkin often this year, much has been made about how the younger generation needs to take the torch and lead the rebuilding Red Wings into a new era. Mantha has 13 points in 16 games (7-6) while Larkin has 14 points (2-12). Mantha is on pace to become the goal scorer the Red Wings envisioned him to be when they drafted him in 2013. With both playing well, and having Andreas Athanasiou back, the younger kids are injecting much needed speed and skill into the lineup.
- St. James continues, reporting that while winger Tyler Bertuzzi is closer to return, a spot in Detroit isn’t as open as it once was. With newly acquired Scott Wilson bringing “grit” and with Detroit winning more than losing recently, it will take some change for him to be re-inserted into the lineup. St. James indicates that Bertuzzi and 2015 first round pick Evgeny Svechnikov are the top candidates to be shuttled to Detroit when changes are needed.
- As for head coach Jeff Blashill, St. James indicates that a recent winning streak and stronger play, especially on the road, have taken some pressure off of the bench boss. She points out that after they finish up their road trip, Detroit has 13 of its next 15 games at home. Should Detroit play well during that stretch, St. James believes that a playoff berth could be within reach.
Mantha will be an All-Star.
He’s my favorite Red Wing :)
Dog, you could be right. As long as Holland & Blashill keep from going to the press every time Mantha has a bad game or rough stretch, he will be a good one. They have to quit criticizing their young players in public every chance they get. They did this not only to Mantha but they also criticized Athanasiou every chance that they could. This is the fastest way to do serious damage to a young player’s confidence as they learn the NHL game.
Or I️t has helped improve their play… quit babying them, they are adults. Own up to lack of defensive play and effort, and improve.
Oh, the Red Wings are awful because of a lack of talent & terrible contracts. There is no babying any one here. I am a lifelong Wings fan & never miss a game or news about the team. In Mantha & Athanasiou, you have two very young but talented players trying to learn the game at the highest level.
You just do not belittle anyone in the press or in public. You do this at practices, behind closed doors or one on one. We never hear about one of the overpriced veterans on the team being ridiculed in public or in the press. It is mostly the overpriced veterans on the team that is dragging the Red Wings down because several of them just do not have the talent to carry the Wings.
Yes, Mantha & Athanasiou are big boy adults, but they are learning the NHL game. Is running to the press & telling the public how bad they played the right way to teach these guys or anyone else? As I said, it is the high paid veterans of the team that are hurting the team. Would it be right to call them out in public?
Come on man, if you had kids would you want them called out in public every time that they made a mistake? Mike Babcock, one of the best coaches going, never did this even one time while he was in Detroit. That it just one of the many reasons why he moved on to Toronto. If someone made a mistake or had a bad game, it was handled by the the scenes.
Yes, these guys are highly paid professional athletes but as human beings we should never humiliate anyone in public whether you are an adult or not.
**behind** ^^ the scenes.