Anthony Mantha expected to make AHL debut on Friday

By @MichaelCaples –

Fans wanted him starting in Detroit this season, but after a fractured tibia in the preseason, Anthony Mantha will now make his professional hockey debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

That debut is expected to take place tomorrow.

Mantha, 18, was to miss six to eight weeks due to the injury, which he suffered in a NHL Prospects Tournament game on Sept. 15.

The Griffins announced today that Mantha has been officially assigned to Grand Rapids by the Wings, and that he will be on the ice when the AHL club welcomes the Texas Stars to Van Andel Arena.

Mantha, the Wings’ first-round pick in 2013, recorded 260 points in 187 QMJHL games with Val-d’Or during his juniors career, which has meant lofty expectations from Hockeytown.