GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The wait is almost over.
Highly-touted prospect Anthony Mantha will make his Grand Rapids Griffins debut tonight at Van Andel Arena as the Griffins host the defending Calder Cup champion Texas Stars. Mantha will start on a line with Andy Miele and Landon Ferraro.
“Obviously everyone can’t wait to see me,” said Mantha hours before his first game. “That’s just how it is after my great year last year, but I just want to come out here and do my best.”
The Detroit Red Wings first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft (20th overall) is coming off a fractured tibia suffered during the first game of the Red Wings’ annual prospects tournament.
“I think the timing and the hands are going to come back pretty fast,” said Mantha. “The cardio is maybe a few shifts out there, who knows, maybe it’s going to be a game. I hope not. I hope it’s going to be way faster than that but you never know.
