| … Forward is Detroit’s Goals-Per-Game Leader Since 2016-17 … DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed right wing Anthony Mantha to a four-year contract. Mantha, 26, completed his fourth full NHL campaign in 2019-20, and ranked among Red Wings leaders with 16 goals (3rd), 22 assists (T3rd) and 38 points (3rd) despite skating in only 43 of the team’s 71 games due to injury. Since earning a full-time NHL role in 2016-17, Mantha leads Detroit in goals-per-game (0.33), and his 82 total goals over that span trails only Dylan Larkin (84) for the team lead. In 260 total NHL games since his debut in 2015-16, the 6-foot-5, 234-pound winger has 173 points (84-89-173) and 171 penalty minutes. Mantha was on pace for his best statistical season in 2019-20, as his 0.88 points-per-game average eclipsed his previous best of 0.71, accomplished in the 2018-19 season when he notched a career-high 25 goals among 48 points (25-23-48) in 67 games for Detroit. During the team’s home opener on Oct. 6, 2019 against the eventual Western Conference-champion Dallas Stars, Mantha became the second player in franchise history (and first since John Sorrell in 1933-34) to record a four-goal game in a home opener, which marked the first four-goal game for Detroit since Johan Franzen scored five on Feb. 2, 2011 at Ottawa. Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the first round (20th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Mantha ranks seventh in goals among members of his draft class. The Longueuil, Quebec, native made his debut for Canada’s men’s national team at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, taking home a silver medal after tying for the team lead with 14 points (7-7-14) in nine games. Mantha previously led his country in scoring at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship with 11 points (5-6-11) in seven games. Prior to landing a full-time NHL role, Mantha played 132 American Hockey League games with the Grand Rapids Griffins between 2014-17 and totaled 88 points (44-44-88) and 102 penalty minutes. Mantha turned pro in 2014-15 following a prolific major-junior career, capped off by a season in which he racked up 120 points (57-63-120) in 57 games for the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League en route to capturing awards as Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year, QMJHL Most-Valuable Player (Michel Briere Trophy), QMJHL Leading Scorer (Jean Beliveau Trophy) and QMJHL First All-Star Team. He also racked up 38 points (24-14-38) in 24 postseason games to led his team to the 2014 QMJHL championship. In 189 total games with Val-d’Or from 2010-14, Mantha amassed 260 points (129-131-260) and 185 penalty minutes.  |
