The Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday assigned right wing Anthony Mantha to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Detroit’s first choice (20th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Mantha was previously on injured reserve with the Red Wings after fracturing his tibia during September’s training camp in Traverse City.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound right wing spent the last three seasons with the QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs, where he amassed 260 points (129 goals, 131 assists) in 187 games. Last season, Mantha capped off his junior career with 120 points (57 goals, 63 assists) in 57 regular-season games for Val-d’Or, leading the league in goals and points.
Following the regular season, the Longueuil, Que., native helped the Foreurs to the franchise’s third President’s Cup, picking up 38 points (24 goals, 14 assists) and 52 penalty minutes in 24 QMJHL playoff games and leading all playoff scorers in both goals and PIM. Mantha’s team advanced to the semifinal round of the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament before falling 4-3 in triple overtime to the eventual tournament champion Edmonton Oil Kings.
For his 2013-14 accomplishments, Mantha was named to the QMJHL’s First All-Star Team, earned the Michel Briere Memorial Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player and was named the CHL Player of the Year. The 20-year-old also represented Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, where he paced the team in scoring with 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven games and was named to the WJC All-Star Team after leading Canada to a fourth-place finish.
Mantha is expected to make his professional debut on Friday, when Grand Rapids will take on the Texas Stars.
