Here is how I feel about Mantha at this point in time.
First I want to preface this by saying that I feel Mantha is criticized to a great degree because we as fans have this vision of what he can GROW into more so than other players not named Larkin. This is due to his foundation of height, frame, serviceable speed (when used), finesse, prior scoring history especially due to his shot which I feel is the best on the team. The whole point is that unless we trade him which I don't think Kenny would do, going forward in order to be a competitive team, we NEED him to be part of the puzzle. Make no mistake about that. Through previous comments made from teammates earlier in the season, they feel the same way too. Through Blash's actions he feels the same way as well.
I believe Blash's comments made toward Mantha was a motivational tool fueled by his vision of what Mantha could be. To an extent when Blash explains himself, I understand where he is coming from. For example, Blash talks about Mantha's role as a net front player and how though it may not be the first option Mantha would desire such as his natural spot at the circles, and how it is important to embrace it. When you and I have jobs in the real world it is important to branch out and learn different skills to help toward your end goal. I feel like Blash putting Mantha in a net front position is his way of doing this. It is a great opportunity for Mantha to learn how to dictate and impact the game in a different way for the future. Its harder to stop a player with a diverse skill set. Now if you have gotten this far, please don't label me as a Blashill apologist because I feel that our coach and bench staff have many warts and I would prefer our newer generation of young players to develop along side a new but more experienced staff (who the candidates are I don't know). This could obviously be a classic case of the grass is greener on the other side, but based upon the results we have gotten over time, I feel like the experiment is coming to an end sooner rather than later. I also feel like our problems on the ice extend further than Blash himself so I do feel its unfair to let him get most of the hate, but I guess it just comes with the territory.
In general, based upon the patterns of play / system we have seen throughout the season and prior, I feel like Blash & co. has implemented a system of low percentage hockey. But for now we are focusing on Mantha, so I will only explain what I see when Mantha is playing with Zetterberg + Nyquist & on the power play. To begin with his normal first line, Zone entries for this line has been quite difficult, dump and chase is difficult with this line because the speed isn't there to get to the puck ahead of the forecheck. When the puck is deep and a battle ensues along the boards (memory please don't fail me now), but I feel that both Z & Nyquist are often the one in the trenches. This is a team wide problem but we don't win many battles in general (one thing that infuriates me). But there are two types of battles I see. One being an even strength battle where Z & Nyquist are against two other defenders, or an odd man battle where its either Z OR Nyquist facing two defenders or both facing 3 defenders. I feel that the best teams in the league play hard working and supportive hockey. Though I am programmed to hate the Pens, whenever I watch them (along with the Preds) I characterize them as worker bees, they immediately get in on the action and support and fight for the puck. Far too often have I seen battles where a player not in the scrum is waiting for a player to somehow get him the puck when its obviously not going to happen. Thus, often we lose the battle and of course possession. One thing to change would be to instruct Mantha to join the battle and use his frame to impact the play. Why do I say instruct, as if it hasn't been said by the coach already? Because we are 60 plus games into the season, and I see this situation of lack of support occur way to long. Thus I assume that lack of adaptation means that he hasn't been instructed specifically to do so. Or it could be that he has and Mantha just doesn't want to do it. So infer how you will.
Now here is one peculiar thing I have noticed. Lets say we have gained possession of the puck in the O-Zone, immediately after possession has been gained, Mantha immediately goes toward the front of the net. Now one would say, "well hey, isn't that what Blash instructed him to do"? Typically I would say yes, but where this fails is that by him solely positioning himself by the net on EVEN Strength plays, he takes himself out as a possible passing option to alleviate the pressure from the forecheck that we WILL/ALWAYS will get since teams know we can't handle it. There are members here (who, is of no concern) that speak of Franzen and how he use to go in and out of the net front position and make plays happen from different areas of the ice. When Mantha is just standing there, his success is predicated by his teammates doing the bulk of the work and getting the puck through traffic and to the net so that Mantha can do what he needs to do. How often do we see that done successfully ? Not much. Its an inefficient style of play, especially when our Defense does us no favors too. Now here is where Mantha is at fault and where I feel he desperately needs to work on. Far too often I see him lazily standing in front of the net and with his stick in the air (above his head) being shoved around (as if he's 5'9 165 lbs) and having poor body position. Now I'm not asking him to be the ultimate warrior like Holmstrom was because few could. But Mantha needs to LEARN and come to understand that a player of his size and assumed strength (do you see his upper body and traps in interviews?) initially has the POWER / ADVANTAGE in such a battle. Part of excelling in the net front position is hard battling, if you have to get a little dirty and throw a few quiet cross checks to make that space yours, then do what you have to do. The second part of it is through technical skills of knowing when and how to gain body position facing the direction of the reception of the puck. I see this season for Mantha as a learning season. A coach needs to be there to instruct this. Again maybe this has been relayed to Mantha and he just hasn't given it his all. Again we as fans will never know, but given the information you yourself have as well as how you perceive things, infer how you will. But as shown, Mantha has his faults too. His faults come through the working side of the game, or as hockey calls it "moving your feet", not through lack of skill. Based upon the conversations he had with Larkin about being impact players for this team during this past offseason, I know the desire is there. He just needs someone to teach him how to get there. Any and all resources must be made available for Mantha (and others) to get them there. Hopefully not in an overbearing or pressuring way, but nonetheless Mantha, along with others are part of our future, and we must smartly invest in them on and off the ice (maybe sports psychologist) to reap the benefits later on. Two players I would like Mantha to do homework on in both battling and using your body initiating contact first for body position are Filip Forsberg and Jordan staal.
As of now I'm pretty tired of typing, and haven't even scratched the surface because as I said, our problems extend far beyond Mantha, blashill and the two or three types of plays I gave examples of. I'm sure there are certain fallacies I have, and if so lets talk about it. But this is a forum to discuss and build off each other, not berate.