from Ansar Khan of Mlive,
"Probably been skating. That's the main key," Mantha said. "I haven't been battling as hard as I wanted, so that's the biggest thing right now."
Mantha has one goal and two assists, with team-worst minus-11 rating, in eight games. That's why the Detroit Red Wings' leading goal-scorer from a year ago has been removed from the power play, had his ice time trimmed and bumped down to the fourth line.
Consistency has been an issue for the 6-5, 225-pound forward throughout his brief career. He met with coach Jeff Blashill recently in a search for solutions.