2014 NHL Draft: Ryan Mantha talks about being selected by the Rangers
By Robert Bondy –
Ryan Mantha was anxiously waiting on Saturday for his life-changing event to finally happen, admitting he was getting nervous as the rounds passed by.
But all the butterflies in the Clarkson native’s stomach transformed into pure joy and excitement when the wait was over and he was officially selected in the 2014 NHL Draft.
The New York Rangers selected Mantha in the fourth round with the 104th overall pick, giving the 6-foot-5, 225-pound defenseman a path to a career of playing the game he loves.
“I was excited, I had butterflies all day, a little nerves kicking in there coming into the fourth round,” Mantha told MiHockey at the NHL Draft. “It’s just the best feeling of my life so far.”
Despite having to wait a bit into the second day of the draft, the selection by the Stanley Cup Runner-up New York Rangers didn’t come as a big surprise to Mantha. He said the team that calls Madison Square Garden home showed an early interest in him at the NHL Combine and only grew from there.
“I met with them at the combine then they came to my hometown, Clarkston, Michigan, where I met with a man there, and I thought the interview went really well there,” Mantha said. “I knew they were very interested, and (I’m) fortunate enough to be drafted by such a great organization.”
Mantha played for the United States Hockey League’s Indiana Ice this past season and was a crucial piece in the club’s Clark Cup Championship. Mantha, along with other Michigan native and NHL draftee Josh Jacobs, held down the blue line for the Ice, creating an impressive portfolio entering the draft.
Mantha considers himself non-flashy and looks to make a pass first. He also likes to use his big body to be physical on the ice. Mantha added that he doesn’t necessarily model his game after any current NHL players, but did point to one fellow Michigan native as someone he looks up to.
“I don’t model my game after anyone, I just watch guys like Torey Krug on the Bruins and P.K. Subban, just what they do in their game to make them elite players,” Mantha said.
As a nephew of former NHL defenseman Moe Mantha, hockey had always been in his blood. Growing up in Michigan, Mantha was part of a couple decorated clubs including Little Caesars and Belle Tire, playing with other NHL 2014 draftees Dylan Larkin and Brendan Perlini. It was during his time with Belle Tire that Mantha said he developed more speed in his game and credited a lot of his development to head coach Joe Smaza.
“He’s a great guy, he put together a real great team,” Mantha said. “… He’s the one who showed me the ropes kind of as a forward and I’m a bigger guy so it got my feet going and helped me out a lot, and now as a defenseman I got that speed.”
With the Indiana Ice folding next season, Mantha will most likely be leaving the USHL ranks but still is unsure of where he’ll be next season. Mantha said he could join the University of North Dakota or the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League. He will be making his decision soon, depending on what the Rangers want him to do next in his career.