DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner filed a locker room clean-out day article this afternoon, discussing Anthony Mantha’s offseason plans:
When the Wings were cleaning out their lockers on Tuesday, Mantha was asked what he needed to work on this offseason to build on his 48-point season in which he led the Red Wings with 24 goals.
“I will be doing a little bit of power skating for sure, you can never get enough speed or edge work so that’s going to be one thing and work on some grit in the offseason,” Mantha said. “I talked with (coach Jeff Blashill) and (general manager Ken Holland) this morning, so maybe do a couple boxing lessons to maybe get that grit going for next year.
“It’s really more for the grit to find that extra, maybe to get angry a little bit more, not necessarily to fight next year, that’s not the message they want, they just want extra grit.”
This will not be the first time Mantha has stepped into the ring. Two years ago, he spent the summer in Detroit adding muscle. He also took a few boxing lessons and during his junior days, he dabbled a bit in pugilism.
According to Mantha, boxing is “actually a good workout program.”
Well I’ll give the Wings credit for being creative. Hoping this brings out a more assertive Mantha.
That said, I do find it a little bothersome that it took half a season before Mantha went to Blashill to seek out clarity on what exactly he was talking about. I feel like the coaching staff should have a better pulse on the team. The staff should have been more proactive…like why aren’t we getting through to Mantha? Let’s get him in here and talk to him. Ask Zetterberg to join that meeting. What do we need to do to help this player take the next step? Feels like we let him slip through the cracks. Mantha himself admitted that being yelled at or publicly criticized via the media was not helpful. So it’s the onus of the coaching staff to figure out how to reach each player. Many believe Scotty was the greatest coach ever, but often it was Barry Smith that acted as the conduit between Scotty and the players. Guys would go to Smith and vent their frustrations. So maybe we need a different dynamic on the coaching staff to help deliver the message that Blashill has failed to make crystal clear.
“I think the player gets to a realization where they understand what you’re trying to do is get the very best out of them. You’re not picking on them. When they understand that, then there can be real growth.”
Oh man. If only everyone understood that idea.
“I do find it a little bothersome that it took half a season before Mantha went to Blashill to seek out clarity…”
I glad you also realize that as adults it is as much Mantha’s responsibility as it is Blashill’s.
“The staff should have been more proactive…like why aren’t we getting through to Mantha? Let’s get him in here and talk to him.”
Ahh….it’s just as easy for Mantha, an adult, to go to management and say, WTF I don’t understand you.
“I’ve had Anthony a long time. It’s not like this is just a new growth process. Those buttons can change as people mature.”
Blashill sure seems to understand people. This is a very mature statement by him. He recognizes Mantha’s motivation will evolve over time and that the same method that worked once may not work the next time. Nothing like this has been said by Mantha all year so it’s really hard to get behind him on his growth. Blashill seems to be doing what he can, it’s up to the other person to say they don’t understand. Management can’t read minds contrary to your belief.
“Ask Zetterberg to join that meeting.”
How do we know he was or wasn’t part of meetings?
“So it’s the onus of the coaching staff to figure out how to reach each player.”
I would love to have a Jedi as the coach of the Wings. “You will improve.” “Many goals you will have.” “May the puck be with you.”
“…but often it was Barry Smith…”
bah aha hah ah hahah ahahaa! Barry Smith. I bet you knew that was coming.
“So maybe we need a different dynamic on the coaching staff to help deliver the message that Blashill has failed to make crystal clear.”
Or maybe the players just need to realize they are adults and share in the responsibility of their own growth…..Hello, Mr. Larkin, how are you?
That’s a good point about the role of assistant coaches.
We focus a lot on the head coach because he’s newer to the league and having to balance having known some of these kids in Grand Rapids, with the Holland “man’s league” MO. A lot of us have interpreted calling out only a couple rookies or near-rookies in the press as a sign of double-standards if not also a degree of insecurity.
We mainly focus on the assistants when it comes special teams play.
But having a coach who is demanding, in charge and able to teach and motivate, goes along with having an assistant(s) who can teach, focus on skills and details – but also be a personality the players can really connect with.
Mantha’s been willing when it comes to fisticuffs. I hate to see him in a position where he feels he has to fight another pugilist and gets hurt. But he’s got great reach and should be getting stronger and stronger. A power forward who can throw them (however rarely) is a good thing. I loved seeing Mantha go after Kessler when Kessler pulled his usual “tackle and crosscheck the opposing center on faceoffs” move on Larkin. A little bit more polished fighter with Mantha’s size can send a clearer message to other teams.
“That’s a good point about the role of assistant coaches.”
and the role of Captains too.
Personally I don’t want Mantha fighting. I think the hope is boxing helps him become more assertive, more engaged, bull your way to the net and bear down on your chances. If he fights 1-2 times a year when appropriate that’s the limit for me.
It’s not about fighting,
“[pushes you] to where you don’t think you have anything left and he demands another 45 minutes out of you. And then you find a way to do that.”
“I think with Anthony, I just want him to continue to see that there’s more there in terms of pushing himself beyond his comfort level.”
These two comments by Blashill make it very clear the boxing training is not about fighting.
Mantha very optimistic and wants to play here. Maybe it’s lip service, but he could play the fence like AA, so I think it’s genuine.
That speaks volumes about the org. Maybe the young guys aren’t laughing at the coach privately, disheartened by favouritism, etc.
To me it’s very simple. It’s the job of a supervisor (Coach) to clearly state to a subordinate (player) their expectations, actions they want you to take, as well as how they want your actions and goals accomplished. If direction is not clear or even given you have failed as a supervisor.
If you don’t clearly tell your people your expectations they will never meet your expectations. It’s that simple.
Blashill is in over his head.
Yup! That’s the ‘process’ Andy.
I might add, these ‘supervisory’ evaluations shouldn’t be done in the press. 🙂
If a guy playing in the NHL cannot understand the need to play hard every night and needs boxing lesson to get more “into it ” i’m afraid for his future in this league.
Maybe we should hire Wit to kick Mantha in the butt before every game to get him going..maybe…