That's always tough to read -- it's easy for me to sit here and just say "work harder," but clearly, this is a player who sometimes thinks he is putting in the effort at the point of impact, and I think anyone who has played sports knows what that feels like.
When I see Mantha play, I see the classic "big player who plays a skill game, almost all the time," and that almost always leaves people wanting more -- but it's difficult to teach some guys to go through people, through checks, stop in front of the net. Most of them think they are doing it more than they actually do
- AllInForFlyers
There is nothing wrong with big guys playing a skilled only game. Their size only exaggerates their ability to protect the puck, see the ice, and reach in the corners. Guys like Getzlaf, Byfuglien, etc.. Mantha is extremely talented and agile for a guy his size and has great hands. However, at the NHL level, almost every guy has to compete hard pretty much every night to produce. Not every great player goes all out every game, I understand that, it’s a long season. However, Mantha has continuously been criticized for his level of effort in both ends of the ice going back to juniors. There is a long list of highly skilled and physically gifted guys that have come into the NHL and have washed out because they never find that next competitive gear.
Don’t get me wrong, this could also be a coaching matter as well. Mantha May never please Coach Blash and another coach may be able to adapt Mantha’s game to their team. It could all be situation at this point. However, I just don’t think it’s a matter of a skilled guy not willing to knock people over.
