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#8 Anthony Mantha

Pos: RW
D.O.B.: 9/16/94
From: Longueuil, PQ
Height: 6'5
Weight: 204
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2013 draft 1st rnd, 200th overall by Detroit (NHL)
Acquired: Signed to 3-yr contract by Detroit (NHL) 10/12/13
Personal:
Plus: Elite scorer... Great hands with a quick accurate release... Able to make tremendous plays in traffic and in close... Great size... Tremendous skater with speed and a change of pace... Takes criticism well and uses it for motivation...
Minus: Consistency and effort have been questioned... Intensity wanes at times...
Organizational Comments: Red Wings Scout Joe McDonnell: "He's got a great shot, and he just seems to find the open ice. With his size to go along with those things, it was a real intriguing package for us. He's on the skinny side right now, but we'll see his work ethic and he'll get bigger eventually."
What GRC says: 2015-16 While it would be easy to talk about his much improved offense and compete level, the thing that seems to stand out for Mantha is his ability to turn negative comments into motivation. Rarely has a player with his skill set been so maligned by the organization so early in his career, but the towering sniper just uses it as motivation to up his game another notch. He got his first taste of the NHL, and by the numbers didn't look out of place, but was used less and less and was dismissed back to the AHL as being a nonfactor. The result was 11 points in 9 playoff games to lead the team. That being said, he still needs to keep working on his intensity, consistency and focus which tend to ebb and flow.
2014-15 A broken leg slowed him significantly, and he never really seemed to catch up to the pace of his teammates. Mantha did show off glimpses of the tools in his toolbox, especially his incredible hands and ability to make plays in traffic. Those gifts, combined with his size gave the opposition fits at times. Unfortunately it didn't happen frequently enough, and his intensity level appeared to have the flame too low. His season ebbed and flowed, with a low point being called out in the media as a disappointment by a team executive. Overcoming that adversity should make him a much stronger player next season. It is obvious he has the hands and intelligence to play the game at a high level. He needs to work on pace, compete level and keeping his feet moving to make the next step.
Role: Elite Sniper
Projection: NHL 1st Liner

Statistics:

Transactions
10/12/13 Signed to 3-yr contract by Detroit (NHL)
11/12/14 Assigned by Detroit (NHL)
10/4/15 Assigned by Detroit (NHL)
3/14/16 Recalled by Detroit (NHL)
4/10/16 Assigned by Detroit (NHL)