Bob Duff: Mantha a victim of hype machine Numbers put up by first-year Detroit forward Anthony Mantha weren't earth shattering, but comparable to others starting out in pro hockey.

suck it everyone

That's uncalled for....

This is what I thought. Tatar and Jurco both produced a little less then Mantha, but didn't get treated like this. Also, you have to take into consideration that he played in a league that had a lot of smaller players and the small guys usually put up big numbers.

I would gladly take him off your hands.

Phaneuf straight up.

Tatar and Jurco weren't first round picks. Stats inflated for playing in a league without defence. He'll be fine. Relax

If Detroit is so down on him they can ship him to us for a couple low tier prospects

Package him here for Sharpie!!!!

If they were going to trade Mantha, it would have to be for someone much more impactful than Phaneuf, or another depth player.

I was never a "trade Mantha" fan. Let the kid develop a bit, that broken leg would not put anyone in a good start to their career -- I still think Mantha will become a great NHL player, but expectations have to let him grow just like anyone else.

Out of curiosity, what are realistic expectations for a player who was named the CHL player of the year? Broken leg or not, it's hopefully more than 33 points in 62 AHL games (and 4 points in 16 playoff games) on a division-winning team.

The Wings aren't necessarily known for rushing their players to the NHL, haha. I don't see why there's such a rush from the fans for Mantha. He's going to be a good hockey player, just going to take some time like it does with most.

Out of curiosity, what are realistic expectations for a player who was named the CHL player of the year? Broken leg or not, it's hopefully more than 33 points in 62 AHL games (and 4 points in 16 playoff games) on a division-winning team.
- jmatchett383

if you want to learn to win cups, you have to learn to play on 200 feet of ice. Part of the Wings development will get them better in areas that dont show up on the stats sheet.

also, since were playing that game... Cody Hodgson, Ryan Ellis and Brendan Shininmin won it too... are saying that they should all be of upmost expectation? perhaps, however I would think that the realistic person, or GM knows that they got that award playing against kids, many who will never play in the NHL, let alone against men in the AHL.

I think he was offensively underwhelming, but where the issue is with the Wings brass, he also underperformed on the backside of the puck, which is like a double negative.

Out of curiosity, what are realistic expectations for a player who was named the CHL player of the year? Broken leg or not, it's hopefully more than 33 points in 62 AHL games (and 4 points in 16 playoff games) on a division-winning team.
- jmatchett383

He didn't have a great season, but most people had unrealistic expectations for this kid. I was expecting 20 goals, even after missing 20 games. He hit 15, so slightly below my expectations I guess. I don't think the was ever consistently counted on as a top 6 forward, but he will be going into next year in GR. I got the feeling he wasn't prepared enough for the pro game, but I think he'll be fine and make it to the NHL in another year or two. No one is going to run him out of town.

The Wings aren't necessarily known for rushing their players to the NHL, haha. I don't see why there's such a rush from the fans for Mantha. He's going to be a good hockey player, just going to take some time like it does with most.
- SolidGoldBricks

This is a great article.

Wings fans may have been FINALLY, an OUT OF THE BOX nhl player vs years of development. But since he struggled, he is just like all of the others. -- I would dare to say he will still have the end game, but take longer than many wanted or expected.

Out of curiosity, what are realistic expectations for a player who was named the CHL player of the year? Broken leg or not, it's hopefully more than 33 points in 62 AHL games (and 4 points in 16 playoff games) on a division-winning team.
- jmatchett383

Well, CHL player of the year generally goes to a draft +1 or more player. What did Brendan Shinnimin do after he won player of the year? Or Justin Azevedo? Jordan Eberle did well after winning it but he was also a year older than Mantha. It is not like Drouin who won it before him and is the same age is looking spectacular in TB yet.

Mantha will be fine. Adjusting to the pro game is difficult. Trying to do it while simultaneously rehabbing a broken leg and trying to play catch up for the 2 months you missed is damn near impossible. Let's wait and see how he does this year, barring injury, before we pass judgement. As many Wings fans may recall, some guy named Datsyuk received almost identical criticism when he was in this position. Anyone know how he turned out?

Wings sign Tangradi. 1 or 2 way deal?

Wings sign Tangradi. 1 or 2 way deal?
- TokenBlack

It's gotta be a 2 way

Out of curiosity, what are realistic expectations for a player who was named the CHL player of the year? Broken leg or not, it's hopefully more than 33 points in 62 AHL games (and 4 points in 16 playoff games) on a division-winning team.
- jmatchett383

I looked into this a bit before last season using observed junior-to-NHL and junior-to-AHL league equivalency statistics -- basically asking, for players who jump straight from juniors to the NHL (the best prospects) or the AHL (most prospects), how much of their scoring (in terms of ppg) do they retain?

For players of Mantha's age and performance, jumping straight from the CHL to NHL, the answer was basically anywhere from 15% to 40%, with 25%-30% being average. For Mantha (who was at about 2 ppg during his age-19 season in juniors), that would translate to an average expectation of roughly a 40-50-point pace had he played in the NHL, with 65 points being a best-case scenario and 25 points being very disappointing.

Junior to AHL equivalency is more like 40% or 45% on average, which would mean that something in the neighborhood of 0.8 to 0.9 points per game at the AHL level would have been a reasonable middle-ground projection for a junior player with Mantha's numbers. Unfortunately, the actual result (0.53 ppg) was quite a bit lower than that.

How much of the gap can be explained by factors such as bad luck, the broken leg, or usage vs. factors like, well, Mantha just not being good enough or having a pro-ready game, I can only speculate.

Interesting to see Ek saying the wings are poking around Ehrhoff...we already need to trade defenseman to make room for the kids. I really wish Ericsson was gone because kronwall, green, Dekeyser, and even someone like ehrhooff for arguments sake would be a real solid top 4

This is a great article.

Wings fans may have been FINALLY, an OUT OF THE BOX nhl player vs years of development. But since he struggled, he is just like all of the others. -- I would dare to say he will still have the end game, but take longer than many wanted or expected.
- BooBoo997

This is sorta how I feel. Do I think the kids a bust? Not by any means. Should we trade him? Not unless there's a really sweet deal. Am I disappointed? Yes, but mainly because this was the first kid we've had in forever that seemed like he was borderline ready for the nhl right from draft, now it seems more like he's got a long development ahead of him just like all our prospects. Bummer, but definitely not a bust and ship him on his way

Interesting to see Ek saying the wings are poking around Ehrhoff...we already need to trade defenseman to make room for the kids. I really wish Ericsson was gone because kronwall, green, Dekeyser, and even someone like ehrhooff for arguments sake would be a real solid top 4
- HomestyleMelt

If the Wings acquired Ehrhoff they would have 10 D.

Kronwall, Green, Ericsson, Quincey, Smith, Kindly, DeKeyser, Ehrhoff, Marchenko, and Oulette.

Wings would need to find a way to move 3 D. I'm guessing the three would be Ericsson, Quincey, and Kindl? Would be nice to shed 10.9 M in salary. I'm guessing Ehrhoff would sign for around 4 M making it a true savings of 6.9 M.

Kronwall-Ehrhoff
DeKeyser-Green
Smith-Marchenko/Oulette

If the Wings acquired Ehrhoff they would have 10 D.

Kronwall, Green, Ericsson, Quincey, Smith, Kindly, DeKeyser, Ehrhoff, Marchenko, and Oulette.

Wings would need to find a way to move 3 D. I'm guessing the three would be Ericsson, Quincey, and Kindl? Would be nice to shed 10.9 M in salary. I'm guessing Ehrhoff would sign for around 4 M making it a true savings of 6.9 M.

Kronwall-Ehrhoff
DeKeyser-Green
Smith-Marchenko/Oulette
- RedDog18

Seems almost impossible tbh....no idea how they would move three Dmen unless they literally took picks back. I heard Vrbata is not resigning in Vancouver. Perhaps Ericsson and Kindl in a package deal to them for vrbata could be interesting. Either way lots of moves to be made I would assume so it should be interesting... Those 3 pairs you posted would be beautiful IMO but unfortunstely likely a pipe dream

Well, CHL player of the year generally goes to a draft +1 or more player. What did Brendan Shinnimin do after he won player of the year? Or Justin Azevedo? Jordan Eberle did well after winning it but he was also a year older than Mantha. It is not like Drouin who won it before him and is the same age is looking spectacular in TB yet.
- Peterg

So, like, 6 points would be the general expectation? I mean, we don't want to set the bar too high.

Seems almost impossible tbh....no idea how they would move three Dmen unless they literally took picks back. I heard Vrbata is not resigning in Vancouver. Perhaps Ericsson and Kindl in a package deal to them for vrbata could be interesting. Either way lots of moves to be made I would assume so it should be interesting... Those 3 pairs you posted would be beautiful IMO but unfortunstely likely a pipe dream
- HomestyleMelt

Yeah, I can't see it happening. I'm not sure why people are linking Ehrhoff and the Wings together.