Detroit's Mantha responds to executive's criticism
Detroit senior vice president Jim Devellano spoke out against one of the organization's most highly touted prospects earlier this week when he called former first-round pick Anthony Mantha "very, very disappointing" in an interview with Keith Gave.
"I say that with a lot of sadness," Devellano told Gave. "Coming out of junior, we had such high hopes for him."
The 20-year-old Mantha recorded 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 62 games this season, his first year of professional hockey. But Mantha showed some maturity when he owned up to Devellano's criticism.
"Personally, I think I underachieved a little bit," Mantha told M Live. "Obviously, I would have liked, say 50, 60, 70 points. That was my goal at the start of the season. Obviously, I didn't achieve that, but it's not over."
Detroit has not given up on the young player just yet. According to general manager Ken Holland, the key for Mantha will be his work ethic over the summer and his attitude entering training camp in the fall.
"I think that's why my managerial style is one of patience," Holland told M Live. "Potential is a wonderful thing. But unless you fulfill your potential – and it's a hard thing to fulfill your potential in the National Hockey League playing against men. That's how they eat. That's how they feed their families.They're not going to let some young players take their jobs without a fight.
"So I think Anthony's going through some adversity, but he obviously has got some great assets, and now he's going to have to learn to improve in areas that the league says he needs to improve on."
(h/t M Live)
Photo by Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
