With Montreal set at center for the first time in what seems like
forever, GM Marc Bergevin must cast his gaze elsewhere to bolster his roster.
One could argue that the place to look would be at the left wing; after Max
Pacioretty, the talent and depth drops off significantly, and there are no prime
candidates in the prospect pool. Although there are no guarantees that Anthony Mantha will be available when the Canadiens make their first round selection
at the 25th spot, he certainly merits consideration.
Left Wing
Born: Sept 16, 1994 – Longueuil, Que
Height: 6’4" Weight: 190 lbs Shoots: Left
ISS Rank: 27 THN Rank: 24 McKeens Rank:
24
Statistics
With Mantha being one of only 3 players in the 2013 Entry Draft with a 50-goal
season
under his belt, one must wonder why he isn’t ranked higher amongst scouts.
The major criticism surrounding Mantha is regarding his work ethic; reports indicate
that Mantha’s effort is inconsistent, and that he is prone to taking shifts
and/or games off. He has displayed a tendency to rely on his talent
rather than hard work, which results in him losing a lot of 1-on-1 battles, even
against opponents that don’t match up against his size or skill. This lack
of competitiveness appears to be static across all situations, as Mantha hasn’t
demonstrated a willingness or ability to take it to another level even in big
game situations.
That all being said, Mantha could be considered one of the draft’s purest
scorers, and if he is able to improve upon his work ethic, he could end up being
one of the steals this year. He possesses a big frame, skates well
and can score at will. Moreover, Mantha has great hockey intelligence, and his
ability to find soft coverage in the offensive zone contributes equally to his
goal output as does his above-average shot and quick release. Though Mantha tends to shoot
more than pass, his aforementioned hockey smarts make him an excellent
playmaker. One of the strongest players in the draft, Mantha possesses a
strong upper body, but scouts would like to see him use that strength more
consistently.
Even though it seems unlikely that Mantha would make the jump to the NHL
immediately, Bergevin could do worse than draft the blossoming power forward.
If Mantha is able to acquire a better work ethic, his size and skill would be
welcomed on the wing. As grandson of former Montreal Canadiens winger
André Pronovost, you know that Montreal will welcome the young forward to the
city with open arms.