Detroit Red Wings

The Daily: Ex-Red Wing Key to Re-igniting Huberdeau; NJ Grades

Published

3 months ago

July 3, 2024

The Calgary Flames are hoping that former Detroit Red Wings player may be right linemate to push Jonathan Huberdeau back on the right track offensively.

The Flames gave Mantha a one-year deal for $3.5 million with the hope he can be the finisher Huberdeau needs to jump-start his game. Huberdeau boasted 115 points in his final season with the Calgary Flames. He has totaled 55 and 52 points in his first two seasons with the Flames.

“An amazing passer in Huby, and a guy that has a great shot … ” GM Craig Conroy said during an appearance on Flames Talk on Sportsnet 960 The Fan. “(Mantha) is a guy that you give him a chance, he can put it in the back of the net. So to have him be able to play with a guy like Huby, that would be fun to watch. Still gotta see where the coach is going to put everybody, but that would definitely be something I’d love to see.”

According to the Calgary Herald, the Flames certainly sold Mantha on the idea of a French Connection element to their line.

“I was all for it,” Quebec native Mantha was quoted in the Calgary Herald article. “If we could get that rolling for both of us, I think it would be awesome. He’s such a great passer so for me, it’s going to be kind of open up and release my shot and see where we could go from there.”

After three disappointing seasons in Washington, Mantha picked the right time to become a 20-goal scorer again. Counting three goals scored after being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, he finished with 23. It was his first time over 20 goals since netting 25 for the Red Wings in 2018-19.

The Flames still gave him a “prove it” one-year deal, but he did receive a hefty salary.

"I skated with Huberdeau over the past summers, Pelletier a little bit last summer. Two of the familiar faces I have around Calgary."

Anthony Mantha might be new to the #Flames but he heads into the 2024-25 season with a couple of connections on the roster! pic.twitter.com/tJTOYmpq22

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) July 1, 2024

Red Wings in Case You Missed It

The Red Wings released their regular-season schedule Tuesday, highlighted by starting their home schedule with back-to-back games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators.

GM Steve Yzerman signed another one of Dylan Larkin’s former University of Michigan teams. There’s now four players from the same Michigan team on Detroit’s squad.

Behind Paywall: Five Reasons why Sheldon Dries was a quality signing for the Red Wings. If you want to subscribe, click here.

Red Wings Offseason

Steve Yzerman is working to spend every last penny of his salary cap space. As of this morning, he has just under $20 million left with restricted free agents Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren still left to sign. When those guys are re-signed, Yzerman has a full roster. (That projects Simon Edvinsson on the team.)