A little, quick Anthony Mantha update here for your weekend.
Looks like Anthony Mantha is sitting out Val-d-Or’s final regular season game today. They’ve clinched their division already.
— Winging It In Motown (@wingingitmotown) March 15, 2014
Considering that Mantha’s team Val-d’Or will be in the QMJHL playoffs, there is no reason for him to risk injury in a meaningless game.
Here are Mantha’s final stats for the regular season:
Mantha’s final regular season stats: 57 games played 57 goals + 63 assists for 120 points and 75 PIM on the season.
— Winging It In Motown (@wingingitmotown) March 15, 2014
Let me just point out that those are some fantastic numbers.
Mantha’s 120 points lead the entire QMJHL, and so does his 57 goals. Marcus Power (76 assists), Jonathan Druin (73 assists), and Guillaume Gelinas (69 assist), all have more assists than Mantha, who has 63 assists. But, it is important to note than Power played 9 more games than Mantha while Gelinas played 10 more. Druin actually ended up only playing 45 games, due to an injury, so putting up the stats that he did was quite impressive. Then again, there is a reason why he was the 3rd pick in this past draft.
Mantha’s team, Val d’Or Foreurs, won their division, giving them the third seed in the QMJHL playoffs. Hopefully they do well in the playoffs, as the experience that Mantha could garner from that would be crucial to his development.
It wouldn’t be completely unreasonable to believe that Mantha could see some time with the Wings in the playoffs. However, as J.J. pointed out, if he plays more than 10-games for the Wings this season, he will lose a year on his entry-level deal. The Wings would not want that to happen, unless Mantha is completely dominating the opposition. This means that if he does get the call, don’t expect him to play more than a handful of games.
Oh, and don’t start talking about Anthony Mantha with other fans. It can lead to games of rock, paper, and scissors, where the other party will outwit you by choosing rock three consecutive times.
Go Blue! GO GREEN. GO WHITE.
