In Red Wings Land

Anthony Mantha wants to be a ‘difference-maker’ for the Washington Capitals – ESPN

Added Jensen: “Analysts, people outside the game, love to analyze players down to the bone. Along with positives, they have to find negatives, things he can work on. I think I read something about him having lazy tendencies, and I mean, I think you could probably say that about every player at some point throughout a game. Watching him here, I don’t see that at all. I think the upside — all his talent, all his skill, and physicality — outweighs everything.”

Kind of damning with faint praise here, huh?

Around the League

ESPN signs Leah Hextall in historic NHL play-by-play hire – NYP

Hextall has been broadcasting hockey for 17 years. Last year for Sportsnet, she became the first woman in Canada to call play-by-play for a national NHL broadcast.

Leah Hextall is really good.