Early 2022 predictions for Anthony Mantha
The Washington Capitals are getting closer and closer to hockey and with each passing day we knock out more early previews. Next up is Anthony Mantha.
Mantha will likely occupy left wing of the second line this upcoming season next to new line mate Dylan Strome. How Strome does with his new team will determine the direction of Mantha.
Last season he only had nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points. But a big reason for that was because of his shoulder injury that limited him to 37 games.
Mantha can be streaky. When he scores he can score in spurts. But when he doesn’t he goes cold. Not this year though. This year he’ll heat up and become a top five scorer.
Whatever Jakub Vrana does, cool. Mantha has the potential to show the Caps won the trade. But if Strome and Mantha don’t mesh, the Caps lost that trade.
Mantha’s best season came when he scored 25 goals in 2018-19. If he scores 15 that would be OK. If he scores 20 awesome. If he matches 25 then great. But to put this at a number Mantha will score 21 goals this season which is still an improvement from the two previous seasons.
What makes Mantha really good is his advanced stats. In the regular season last year he had a Corsi For percentage of 53.89 percent, a 53.35 percent Expected Goals For percentage, and a 48.54 High Danger Chances For, via Natural Stat Trick.
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Mantha has been back with the Caps at informal skates looking to step up in what he hopes to be a fully healthy season. He said to RDS’ Jean Christophe Bertrand in French:
"“I’m going to have to step up, for sure. We will miss Backstrom, Wilson at the start of the year. I will have a more important role and I will give my best for the team.”"