Anthony Mantha suffered a broken finger against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and there is a good chance his season has come to an end
Anthony Mantha has a bright future in the NHL.
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He played 10 games in 2015-16 and scored 2 goals and an assist before returning to the Grand Rapid Griffins of the AHL. If Mantha sits for the rest of the year, his rookie totals look very respectable, especially for a member of the basement-dwelling Detroit Red Wings.
In 60 games, Mantha has 17 goals and 19 assists, good for fourth on the team, and ninth in rookie scoring. The Red Wings offense failed to show up on many nights, and several players continue to suffer from lower point totals.
After suffering a broken finger against the Tampa Bay Lighting, it looks like Mantha's season will likely end. He had a good chance of surpassing the 40-point and 20-goal mark, but getting healthy for next season is far more important.
Ken Holland says Anthony Mantha fractured finger. Believes he is done for season.
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) March 31, 2017
What is very surprising about his injury, is it came during a fight. Mantha is a plus-10 but still, has 53 penalty minutes. If he hopes to become a top-level player in this league, better decision-making is an absolute must. He fought Greg McKegg in the last game against the Lightning and took on Luke Witkowski on Thursday night.
Mantha's ceiling is far too high for him to be fighting. You can bet the Red Wings' coaching staff will make sure he stays away from the fisticuffs next season. He is surely going to play a top six role, and it would be best to have him on the ice as much as possible.
Luckily for Mantha, he will not be missing much as the Red Wings conclude a forgettable season.
