25-Goal Scorer Loses Spot on the Capitals and is Replaced by a 5'7 Rookie

Anthony Mantha has faced a string of challenges in recent times. Once a mainstay in the top six for Detroit, he now finds himself sidelined in Washington.

Despite being a former 25-goal scorer with a $5.8M price tag, he's starting this season not on the ice, but on the bench. Filling his shoes? The 5'7" dynamo, Matthew Phillips.

Phillips Outshines Mantha for a Spot with the Capitals

Phillips has been on the radar of scouts and analysts for a while now. The 25-year-old, having played only three NHL games during his seven-year tenure with the Calgary Flames, found his opportunity to shine with the Capitals this off-season.

A Seamless Transition

Phillips has already charmed Capitals fans, impressing with both his skills on the ice and his charismatic off-ice presence.


In a recent article from Washington Hockey Now, the anticipated outcome — that Mantha might not be in the lineup on opening night — was validated:


Phillips is forecasted to be positioned on the third line, even after showcasing promising chemistry with Alex Ovechkin earlier.

Mantha, hailing from Montreal, has a tough road ahead to regain favor with the Capitals. Meanwhile, it's Phillips' time to stand out, proving that size isn't everything.

For more, read on Washington Hockey Now - WASHINGTON CAPITALSPhillips In, Mantha Out: Foreseeing Capitals' Opening Night Line-Up