12/27 GDT - Red Wings @ Devils - 7:00 PM EST

[Dabura 12,232]

I was hoping he'd get a look on Z's wing. Good stuff.

[kliq 3,763]

2 hours ago, Dabura said:

I was hoping he'd get a look on Z's wing. Good stuff.

I just read that he is taking Mantha's spot.

[Dabura 12,232]

5 minutes ago, kliq said:

I just read that he is taking Mantha's spot.

Yep, replacing Mantha on the top line and on the second power play unit.

Of course, there's no guarantee that it's actually going to be a thing. I guess we'll see what we see...

[brett 1,029]

well mantha really hasnt been lighting it up recently. guy looks lazy out there. bert winning battles and is hungry

[Dabura 12,232]

6 minutes ago, brett said:

well mantha really hasnt been lighting it up recently. guy looks lazy out there. bert winning battles and is hungry

Agreed. Mantha's in a funk.

I actually think AA has been a weak link on that power play unit, but I get wanting to try Bertuzzi in Mantha's role and not AA's role.

[krsmith17 7,191]

1 hour ago, Dabura said:

Agreed. Mantha's in a funk.

I actually think AA has been a weak link on that power play unit, but I get wanting to try Bertuzzi in Mantha's role and not AA's role.

Yeah, Mantha hasn't been great, and I agree with demoting him from the top line to the 2nd line (I'd prefer him on Larkin's wing anyway), but removing him from the power-play is just dumb in my opinion. You want to try Bertuzzi in that net front role? Great, Mantha shouldn't be there anyway. Put Mantha where he belongs, on the right half board and let him utilize his biggest strength, his shot.

I agree on Athanasiou. He's been awful at zone entries, or carrying the puck in general these past few games. He's been single-handedly killing valuable power-play time. I'd prefer to see him taken off that unit before Mantha. I feel like AA's trying to do way too much out there, needs to simplify things.