Detroit Red Wings’ Steve Yzerman: We need Anthony Mantha to play, not fight so much

Helene St. James
 
| Detroit Free Press

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Steve Yzerman was willing to hand out term to Anthony Mantha, and with that, the hope Mantha understands where his value lies.

A day after the sides agreed to a four-year, $22.8 million deal, Yzerman spoke of Mantha’s importance in the Detroit Red Wings rebuild. The 26-year-old top-line winger is a potential 30-goal scorer who helps lead the Wings back to being competitive. 

“He’s one of our best players, a key player on our team,” Yzerman said Wednesday. “Every contract negotiation is a little bit different and each player has different priorities, whether it’s term or what not. We were able to reach agreement on term that worked for both of us and a salary that worked for both of us.”

[ Mantha contract shows Steve Yzerman’s savvy within rebuild ]

Mantha’s new contract ups his salary cap hit from $3.3 million to $5.7 million. The contract comes with the expectation that Mantha will try to improve his game — which, of course, requires he be in the lineup.

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“All our guys should be trying to improve every year they play,” Yzerman said. “We’re trying to stress that. For Anthony, the biggest thing is, I want him to stay healthy. I’m sure he wants to stay healthy, too.”

Mantha missed six weeks last season healing from a punctured lung suffered while attempting to engage Toronto’s Jake Muzzin after a legal hit on then-teammate Madison Bowey. The season before, Mantha missed about a month healing from a hand injury suffered fighting Patrik Nemeth after he hit Dylan Larkin. 

Mantha missed the end of the 2016-17 season after fracturing a finger fighting Luke Witkowski. 

The Wings cannot afford to have their premier goal scorer sitting in sick bay.

“I think three of his injuries may have come in fights,” Yzerman said. “I don’t try to encourage our players to fight. I’m not telling him that he can’t — it’s a physical, emotional game and whether there’s fighting in any sport or not, sometimes it happens. Guys are competitive and intense.

“Anthony, when he’s healthy, he’s an important player, an impact player. We need him on the ice.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.