3 landing spots for Anthony Mantha
When the Washington Capitals traded Jakub Vrana for Anthony Mantha the fan base was divided. You had the fans who loved Vrana for his speed, charm, and heart. You had fans who thought Mantha was an upgrade since he was a bigger guy.
Two years after the trade both the Caps and Detroit Red Wings lost. The winners of the trade turned out to be he St. Louis Blues who have enjoyed Vrana’s services. But this is a Capitals blog so how did this trade affect them?
First off, let’s look at how much he cost them. He cost the Caps, well besides Vrana of course, was a first round draft pick. For Mantha’s numbers which we’ll talk a plenty about in the next three slides, it’s pretty expensive for a $5.7 million cap hit.
Anyway lots of fans want him to be traded. But if the Caps were to move him where would he go?
#3 Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes always seem to be rebuilding and could use a veteran leader. Mantha believe it or not is a veteran now. The leading scoring winger of the Coyotes is currently Lawson Crouse with 23 goals. He’s 25. Mantha is just three years older.
#2 Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are rebuilding and Mantha could be a big part of that rebuild. After all their moves at the trade deadline their current leading scoring winger is Taylor Raddysh with 20 goals. He’s 24. Mantha has 11 goals and again he’s 28.
Regarding Mantha: things haven’t worked out, and he hasn’t capitalized on a fully-healthy season. He has been a healthy scratch on numerous occasions and has been inconsistent and snakebitten, unable to finish on his chances and struggling offensively and defensively. However, it’s unclear whether or not he’s still in the mix going forward, let alone what his trade value would be.
That’s why this isn’t quite a rumors article. We’re just having fun here speculating where he could go. But yeah a young and rebuilding team like the Blackhawks could certainly use a veteran like Mantha. And he won’t get in trouble off the ice. Mantha is a family man having just gave birth to a girl with his wife.
Mantha has only appeared in 67 games this season. Last year it was just 37 but he got a free pass because last year he was hurt.
#1 Pittsburgh Penguins
The number one destination for Anthony Mantha is the Pittsburgh Penguins. That way if his play stays the same he won’t have the pressure to lead. Plus he already knows how to beat the Caps which is all you need in order to get a chance to play for the Pens.
The Penguins made it clear they’re going for the Cup and not participating in some silly mini rebuild like the Caps are doing. As far as goal scoring goes for the wingers Rickard Rakell leads with 27 goals. Even if Mantha scores 15 goals that would be considered a success.
Plus it would be funny on hockey twitter whether Mantha does good or bad with his new team. But it would put the Caps at a disadvantage as Mantha would share secrets of his former team. But it won’t be that bad considering the Caps are 99.9 percent likely to move on from Pater Laviolette and be searching for a new head coach very soon.
Must Read. The Capitals Cannot Let The Past Dictate Their Future. light
The Caps still have five games left in the season. On Thursday they’ll travel to Montreal to face the Canadiens. In those five games three of them are on home ice. There’s also one more back to back left on Monday and Tuesday.