Oilers sign Mantha
By Zach Laing
7 years agoThe Oilers have signed right-shot D Ryan Mantha to a three-year entry level contract. More to come.
Playing in his final year in theght0 OHL, the 6’5, 225-pound blueliner was a former fourth-round draft choice by the New York Rangers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Playing in 175 OHL games, Mantha has scored 101 points, including 51 points in 58 games this season with the Niagara Ice Dogs.
From Future Considerations, via elite prospects:
Mantha has good bloodlines and impressive size. Handles the puck well and makes a strong breakout pass. Uses his reach and strength to defend. He needs to work on his transition and overall mobility as well as improve his physical play as he comes off as somewhat soft. (November 2013)
From PuckProse:
Mantha’s playmaking skills blossomed the past two years and given the fast pace of the OHL, he was able to improve his speed and agility. All things that were criticized in his 2014 scouting report.Although Mantha has improved offensively, defensively he still lacks the physical game and he doesn’t have the best coverage in his own zone. Still, he should be expected to be picked up around the fourth or fifth round again as he would add great depth to a defensively depleted roster.
Edmonton has lacked right-shot defencemen in the organization for sometime and t
he move to sign Mantha helps re-assure some of those issues. He will have the opportunity to play with the Bakersfield Condors when his OHL season ends and next year he will play in a full-time role with the club.
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