2016-17 Rookie Spotlight: Anthony Mantha

Welcome to another 2016-17 Rookie Spotlight, where I will be looking at rookies making their NHL debut during the 2016-17 season. Today we look at Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings.

Name: Anthony Mantha

Age: 22

Size: 6ft5 221 lbs

Hometown: Longueuil, Quebec

Jersey #: 39

Drafted: 1st Round 20th Overall in 2013 draft by the Detroit Red Wings

Position: Right Wing

Junior Team: Val D'Or Foreurs

2016-17 stats: GP 27 G 11 A 9 Pts 21

Comparable NHL players: Pat Lafontaine, Thomas Vanek

Anthony Mantha is your prototypical power forward, with a specific flair for putting the puck in the net. He is very athletic for his size, and is one of the few bright spots on a Red Wing team that has been very disappointing this season. He appears to becoming more consistent, which is something that has always plagued him during his junior career. Some nights he would look like the best player on the ice, while other nights he would be completely invisible.

Mantha has a huge opportunity in Detroit right now. The team is struggling, and looking for scoring. He was given the opportunity to shine, and that is what he is doing at the moment. His ATOI is slowing increasing and is currently averaging 17:07 minutes per game. He has 8 points in the last 7 games, and it will be interesting to see if can continue to put up those type of numbers.

One of his most memorable goals this year was from the Winter Classic. Where he scored with 01.1 seconds left:

Mantha is making huge strides with Detroit, and that could go along way to him getting top line minutes. He might not win the Calder this year, but he is going to be a very dangerous sniper, and could quickly develop into a 40 goal scorer.