Season 23-24: Anthony Mantha has a (huge) fixed points target

Last season was not necessarily an easy one for Anthony Mantha in Washington.

He had to miss a few games due to injury, and he didn’t play up to the expectations set for him by management. It’s fair to say that he disappointed with 27 points (11 goals) in 67 games… But it’s mainly his inconsistency that’s bothering the Capitals.

His name has been at the heart of a number of trade rumours (let’s not forget that his salary is $5.7 million a year and his contract expires at the end of next season) for obvious reasons, but the Caps have been unable to get rid of him.

That said, Anthony Mantha is 28 years old and it would be unusual to say that he’s on a downward slope. Because, after all, bad spells and more difficult seasons in terms of offensive production do happen.

The big forward is aware of this, of course, and will be looking to “redeem himself” in 23-24. How does he intend to do it?

The Quebecer would like to reach the 60-point plateau, something he has never done in the NHL. His highest single-season point total is 48.

It’s a huge goal… But Mantha has the tools to get there.

He’ll be well surrounded in Washington and we all know in Quebec that he has what it takes to be a dominant player in the NHL.

His size, his vision, the quality of his hands and his shot…

But if he’s to finish next season with 60 points, Mantha will have to find a way to give 100% every time he jumps on the ice. That’s what he’s been accused of since the start of his career, both in Detroit and Washington.

As you can read in the tweet above, the Quebecer is working on his explosion at the moment and has lost weight in order to be faster on his skates. We know what a big man Anthony Mantha is, and by “shedding” a few pounds, he’s giving himself a better chance of keeping up with the others on the ice.

I honestly hope so. It would be quite a feat for him, in the sense that he’ll find himself free as a bird in the summer of 2024.

If he has a great season, the better his salary will be in his next contract. And he obviously knows what he has to do to get there.

In brief

– The opposite would be rather surprising.

Georges Laraque: Petry and DeSmith won’t even play one game in Montreal@GeorgesLaraque joins @TonyMarinaro to discuss the #Habs trade.

Full pod👇
Watch: https://t.co/niwfYiWSdL
Listen: https://t.co/zhDvZNNiQg#thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/2HhO2fq0tX

– The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) August 15, 2023

– He’s one of the elite, at least.

– He helped the Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 1964.

– Seen likewise.

Sounds like Kris Letang(@Letang_58) is an @ErikKarlsson65 fan. 🤩

(via @mattvensel) pic.twitter.com/NH2PsIWWvT

– NHL (@NHL) August 15, 2023

– He’s got some big shoes to fill with the departure of Aaron Rodgers.