Detroit Red Wings: A Thirty Goal Season in Anthony Mantha’s Future?

After back to back respectable seasons from the Detroit Red Wings big scoring power forward; expect a career year out of Anthony Mantha in the 2019/20 season.

Anthony Mantha emulated his scoring line last season nearly the same as the year before in his second NHL season as a regular. The Detroit Red Wings forward recorded 48 points in back to back seasons. Last year Mantha achieved 25 goals; the most in a single season thus far in his young career. The year prior he recorded 24 goals.

As Mickey Redmond loves to refer to him as ‘the big Frenchman’ is poised to earn himself a career year.  All signs point to Mantha recording a 30-goal season. Mantha missed 15 games last season due to a broken hand he suffered in a fight with Patrik Nemeth, now a teammate in Detroit.  It was the second time during his career he broke a hand in a fight.

The other was during a tilt with now-former Detroit Red Wings defenceman Luke Witkowski.  Ironically enough, the year after both incidents the Wings decided to bring both players to the organization.  Perhaps to discourage Mantha from scrapping?  No, of course not, it’s just a comical coincidence.

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Anthony Mantha proved at the end of last season he has the potential to be an offensive juggernaut with the Detroit Red Wings when he keeps his feet moving.  In the Wings final eight games, he recorded 15 points including 8 goals.  He was dialed in; the entire top line was playing exceptionally well.  Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin, along with Mantha, provided the organization with an actual top line. The trio produced exceptionally well together, especially down the stretch.

On the year Mantha averaged a career-high 17:50 TOI per night.  During that final eight regular-season game stretch head coach, Jeff Blashill played him considerably more as he averaged 19:18 TOI per night. Mantha proved he can handle the boost in ice-time, and made the most of it.  This season that top line for the Wings should be playing around 20-minutes per night, each night. Not just Dylan Larkin but the entire three man group.

Last season the Detroit Red Wings finally experienced a thirty goal scorer, in fact, they had two in Andreas Athanasiou and Dylan Larkin.  It was the first time the Wings had a 30 goal scorer since 2009 when they had four (Marian Hossa, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen).

I believe Anthony Mantha will finally break the 30-goal barrier next season with the Wings.  Both Dylan Larkin & Tyler Bertuzzi are continuing to excel, which means the entire line should be more productive next season. Mantha is entering the final year of his current deal so that should only fuel his desire to be prolific.  He will once again become a restricted free agent next summer.