Mantha

[Fonzarelli 73]

Wings shipped Mantha back down to Grand Rapids. What are they thinking? These people have no clue what they are doing. We have players that shouldn't be in the lineup, but they are there nonetheless. Greatly disappointed in this decision.

[Richdg 267]

Better to play in GR than sit on the bench.

[Aethernum 276]

Oh, whoops. I just started a topic on this, too. I'll get mods to delete mine.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Pretty ridiculous blowing the last chance mantha will ever have from being surrounded pavel , Blashill was all about the kids when he came here but athanasiou is playing 5 minutes a game now and all the kids he practically coached in Grand Rapids are being benched

Jeff let's keep playing it safe Blashill could turn out to be a big mistake

Brad Richards and Anderson won't help us win a cup , having athanasiou and a sniper like mantha get more ice time on the powerplay and top 6 will

Whatever , at least we got 25 years now .... That seems like the only goal now

[marcaractac 3,963]

Pretty ridiculous blowing the last chance mantha will ever have from being surrounded pavel , Blashill was all about the kids when he came here but athanasiou is playing 5 minutes a game now and all the kids he practically coached in Grand Rapids are being benched

Jeff let's keep playing it safe Blashill could turn out to be a big mistake

Brad Richards and Anderson won't help us win a cup , having athanasiou and a sniper like mantha get more ice time on the powerplay and top 6 will

Whatever , at least we got 25 years now .... That seems like the only goal now

While I agree with most of this, Richards has been an important part of the team. Especially as of late. We will be happy to have him in the playoffs.

[Wheelchairsuperhero 1,453]

Well, I've gotta say I've lost faith in the decision making here. Pp looked good with Mantha and we were winning games, we bench him and now it looks like we'll never win again lol. He could've gotten some valuable playoff experience (with Datsyuk even) but instead we'll have our offensive dynamo Andersson in! Let's just keep bashing our heads against the wall here and expect a different outcome, fun plan.

Edit: also, what's being benched a few games then subsequently demoted right as we make the playoffs supposed to do for his confidence? It honestly seems like all we do lately is break these kids down and build them back up to play average, safe hockey with no creativity.

Edited April 10, 2016 by Wheelchairsuperhero

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

While I agree with most of this, Richards has been an important part of the team. Especially as of late. We will be happy to have him in the playoffs.

Having a line of Richards helm datsyuk won't cut it for a long playoff run though

I thought the kids would be better when Blashill came here but they are mostly being benched , Tatar and nyquist who should be good for 25-30 goals have under performed and were over using the vets

I don't know , hope we win but if that's gonna happen it's going to have to be with mrazek as I don't see howard capable of stealing series , so I'd expect us to go with mrazek game 2 or 3'

And athanasiou needs a significant amount more than 5 minutes of ice time , he needs to be with pavel

[marcaractac 3,963]

Having a line of Richards helm datsyuk won't cut it for a long playoff run though

I thought the kids would be better when Blashill came here but they are mostly being benched , Tatar and nyquist who should be good for 25-30 goals have under performed and were over using the vets

I don't know , hope we win but if that's gonna happen it's going to have to be with mrazek as I don't see howard capable of stealing series , so I'd expect us to go with mrazek game 2 or 3'

And athanasiou needs a significant amount more than 5 minutes of ice time , he needs to be with pavel

I didn't mean they should keep Richards. Dats and helm together, however lol. Put Mantha or AA with dats and Richards. If the worry is inexperience and mistakes, put the kids with two reliable vets. Mantha on line two, AA on the fourth with Glenn and helm. Tell me that fourth line wouldn't give Tampa fits.

But no, we are gonna go with slower than molasses Andersson. Unbelievable. For a team being built on speed, they sure seem to be doing all they can to neuter it.

[Wings10 300]

So it begins..what the fack is this chit.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

So much for giving the young guns a chance, unbelievable. Mantha could have learned a lot from Pasha, now he won't have that chance. Reminds me on Smith being given the chance to learn from Lidas.

But hey sending down useless players like Jurco, Pulkinnen or Andersson would have made too much sense so I guess that has to be expected from this management.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

I see both sides of the fence on this one. As much as I'd like to have Mantha and his scoring ability out there. As of now he is definitely a defensive liability. He was a -6 in just the few games he played for us. Which Tampa (especially in the playoffs) would likely exploit even more. All that said though, personally I'd rather take the risk, have his scoring touch out there (we're not exactly a high scoring team), and give him NHL playoff experience. But like I said I do see both sides on this one. Not a huge surprise that they don't want to make any risky decisions this time of year.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I didn't mean they should keep Richards. Dats and helm together, however lol. Put Mantha or AA with dats and Richards. If the worry is inexperience and mistakes, put the kids with two reliable vets. Mantha on line two, AA on the fourth with Glenn and helm. Tell me that fourth line wouldn't give Tampa fits.

But no, we are gonna go with slower than molasses Andersson. Unbelievable. For a team being built on speed, they sure seem to be doing all they can to neuter it.

Just seems all the kids besides Larkin are taking a step back and it's frustrating to me personally , this as a golden opportunity for mantha to learn while pavel is here and gain huge playoff experience

If everyone thinks this season was tough just you guys wait till pavel is gone and un experienced mantha steps in full time with possibly guys like nosek,ouellet,sproul,pulkkinen and god knows who else

It's gonna be Armageddon around here next season

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Holland likes to live in the past, so maybe he thinks Richards will channel his 2004 playoff form.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I see both sides of the fence on this one. As much as I'd like to have Mantha and his scoring ability out there. As of now he is definitely a defensive liability. He was a -6 in just the few games he played for us. Which Tampa (especially in the playoffs) would likely exploit even more. All that said though, personally I'd rather take the risk, have his scoring touch out there (we're not exactly a high scoring team), and give him NHL playoff experience. But like I said I do see both sides on this one. Not a huge surprise that they don't want to make any risky decisions this time of year.

Could of double shifted Larkin,AA and whoever else if they weren't comfortable with mantha and make sure mantha got some good chunk of playing time on the ppl where his shot could help and his big body in front of the crease

But it's ok we got brad Richards and his shots to goalies chests on the ppl to bring us to the promise land

[kliq 3,755]

So much for giving the young guns a chance, unbelievable. Mantha could have learned a lot from Pasha, now he won't have that chance. Reminds me on Smith being given the chance to learn from Lidas.

But hey sending down useless players like Jurco, Pulkinnen or Andersson would have made too much sense so I guess that has to be expected from this management.

So if Blashill wont play Mantha, how is it "managements" fault? Wouldnt you rather the kid be playing in the AHL then sitting in the press box?

[frankgrimes 1,836]

So if Blashill wont play Mantha, how is it "managements" fault? Wouldnt you rather the kid be playing in the AHL then sitting in the press box?

Ok let's say management + Blashill would I rather see him play? Damn sure but this would have been a once in a lifetime opportunity for Mantha to play with Pavel Datsyuk. He could have learned first hand what it means to be in the playoffs and how the best player on the team handles all the stuff that comes with it but now rather have other players who won't be here next year that provide nothing instead of a kid making mistakes.

I just don't understand that mentality and it's not a good one in my mind.

[kliq 3,755]

Ok let's say management + Blashill would I rather see him play? Damn sure but this would have been a once in a lifetime opportunity for Mantha to play with Pavel Datsyuk. He could have learned first hand what it means to be in the playoffs and how the best player on the team handles all the stuff that comes with it but now rather have other players who won't be here next year that provide nothing instead of a kid making mistakes.

I just don't understand that mentality and it's not a good one in my mind.

I completely agree with the part I put in bold.

[LeftWinger 4,953]

This just makes me believe that Holland controls who comes and goes and plays...probably why Babcock left. No reason why Blashill would be playing s***ty vets unless he's being told too...it's high time Holland and his entourage are let go. New blood is needed now!

Holland is also the reason Pav is leaving early, IMO. He signed the 3 year deal with the promise he'd get him to the Cup again and great players to play with. He failed last season to get him someone and Pav wanted to leave. Failed again, Pav's done with the bull...

[Number19 159]

Holland likes to live in the past, so maybe he thinks Richards will channel his 2004 playoff form.

It'd be the only possible reason anyone could believe a top 6 of Helm, Richards, Z, Abby, Larkin, and Datsyuk is gonna do any damage. Clown show.

Edited April 10, 2016 by Number19

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

It'd be the only possible reason anyone could believe a top 6 of Helm, Richards, Z, Abby, Larkin, and Datsyuk is gonna do any damage. Clown show.

We spread out the lines - Tatar and Nyquist are top 6 guys. Last year Johnson did the majority of damage on the 3rd line. Better to have 3 solid lines than be top heavy.

[Number19 159]

I see both sides of the fence on this one. As much as I'd like to have Mantha and his scoring ability out there. As of now he is definitely a defensive liability. He was a -6 in just the few games he played for us. Which Tampa (especially in the playoffs) would likely exploit even more. All that said though, personally I'd rather take the risk, have his scoring touch out there (we're not exactly a high scoring team), and give him NHL playoff experience. But like I said I do see both sides on this one. Not a huge surprise that they don't want to make any risky decisions this time of year.

There's no point to this. No one in their right mind expects this team to go anywhere based off the last half of the season we've had. This lineup failed multiple times to secure their own destiny against nonplayoff teams and the AHL Ranger squad. There's a win win with using Mantha and AA and that's valuable playoff experience (with Datsyuk's final games no less) and at the same time maybe one of them has a breakout series. This 23rd ranked offense is not going to get us anywhere.

We spread out the lines - Tatar and Nyquist are top 6 guys. Last year Johnson did the majority of damage on the 3rd line. Better to have 3 solid lines than be top heavy.

With our normal lineup I wouldn't consider any of the lines "solid" besides the 4th line that barely gets to play. Maybe Datsyuk's line is decent, but at the same time the potential could be so much higher without stonehands Helm and Richards. Who is supposed to finish on that line? Datsyuk and Richards are pass first playmakers and Helm is a grinder.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

There's no point to this. No one in their right mind expects this team to go anywhere based off the last half of the season we've had. This lineup failed multiple times to secure their own destiny against nonplayoff teams and the AHL Ranger squad. There's a win win with using Mantha and AA and that's valuable playoff experience (with Datsyuk's final games no less) and at the same time maybe one of them has a breakout series. This 23rd ranked offense is not going to get us anywhere.

Certainly can't argue anything you said. I mean I do see where Kenny is coming from. But I definitely disagree with him on this one.

[krsmith17 7,191]

Sending Mantha down is a huge mistake, but is it possible (hopeful thinking) that because he hasn't played a game in what would be a week and a half, that they're sending him down for a game or two with the Griffins tomorrow (and Wednesday) to get him back playing before our playoffs start?... Please let this be the case. Like others have mentioned, he's played well, provided offense and a weapon on the power-play to a team that severely lacks in both areas. Not to mention what playing on a line would do for both Anthony and Pavel... Dumb move. #freemantha

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

There's no point to this. No one in their right mind expects this team to go anywhere based off the last half of the season we've had. This lineup failed multiple times to secure their own destiny against nonplayoff teams and the AHL Ranger squad. There's a win win with using Mantha and AA and that's valuable playoff experience (with Datsyuk's final games no less) and at the same time maybe one of them has a breakout series. This 23rd ranked offense is not going to get us anywhere.

With our normal lineup I wouldn't consider any of the lines "solid" besides the 4th line that barely gets to play. Maybe Datsyuk's line is decent, but at the same time the potential could be so much higher without stonehands Helm and Richards. Who is supposed to finish on that line? Datsyuk and Richards are pass first playmakers and Helm is a grinder.

Agreed on Datsyuk's line. I've never liked Tatar and Nyquist together. I'd put Tat-Dats-Helm back together that was good last year. and maybe Rich-AA-Nyquist for 3rd

[Jesusberg 1,256]

This line from Holland. Just... wow: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/04/10/wings-opt-andersson-over-mantha-start-playoffs/82866748/

“Anthony Mantha was a spare part in the (AHL) Calder Cup playoffs a year ago. Why does anyone think he is going to be the answer in Detroit?”

I don't get the thought process behind saying something like that. At all.