FEATURE: Mantha focused on becoming reliable player

BAKERSFIELD, CA -In speaking with Ryan Mantha, you wouldn't be able to tell he was a rookie.
For a 21-year-old defenceman navigating his way through his first professional season in the American Hockey League, he seems mature beyond his years.

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The Edmonton Oilers prospect has taken it upon himself to cultivate hobbies outside of hockey, emulating an older, veteran defenceman in the Oilers system: Eric Gryba.
"I'm almost like a mini-me version of him, I'd say," laughed Mantha.
The rookie and veteran have a lot in common, from being avid hunters, to harbouring a passion for the outdoors, all the way down to how they've created a social media presence with their cooking videos.
But it's on the ice where Gryba provides the most assistance, as he's a blueprint for development at this level. Gryba earned his way through the AHL, just as Mantha is trying to do now.
"He has a ton of experience in the National Hockey League," said Mantha. "As a young guy like me, that's what I want to do and where I want to be at the end of the day."
Gryba's advice to Mantha? Be a sponge.
"Go through this league and develop your game, hone your skills, and really become a true pro day in and day out because a lot of guys would not be ready to go right to the NHL and be a pro every single day and go through the schedule and learn the ins and outs of pro hockey," Gryba said. "It's a good opportunity to soak up as much as you can, learn as much as you can, and that will translate into making it at the next level."
Another veteran who has helped Mantha along this season has been one who plays a completely different position, but one who also knows the opportunity the AHL offers.
"It may sound funny, but Eddie Pasquale, the goalie, has helped me out a ton. He's an older guy as well, he's been around so I go out to dinner with him on the road and stuff like that. But he's been a big help, at the same time, of (helping me) not get caught up in things, relax and just play my game."
Mantha describes himself as a two-way defenceman, who puts his first emphasis on the d-zone.

"But I'm not afraid to jump up and try to help the team with some offence."
Mantha has three goals and six assists 34 games into his first pro season, which came after the Oilers signed him as an Ontario Hockey League free agent last March.
"My first 20 games, I was just kind of getting my feet wet in this league," he said. "But I think it's coming along and you just keep working every day or work here and there on when to jump up."
Getting Mantha's offensive game going is one of the to-do list items for the Condors coaching staff.
"I think the biggest thing for us with Ryan, when we looked at his strengths, was that for a big guy, he's pretty mobile. He's got a great shot. His rush and his gap control were areas we wanted to focus on him getting better," said Fleming.
"Joining the rush, getting up in the play, moving the puck, and then following it up and being an option. Having the puck come through him and leave him in a better spot than when he got the puck. We're still working with Ryan and we're starting to see that. It's a process. The whole thing is a process."
It's a process that Mantha believes is working.
"I think it's coming naturally, but at the same time it is a bit of an adjustment," said the blueliner.
Also helping Mantha along is the fact that he's not alone. He's part of a very young d-core in Bakersfield that includes fellow first-year pros Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones. They continue to help each other through their first AHL seasons.
"It's been great," said Mantha. "They're in the same situation as I am coming into this year, as our first year. It's nice to know you're not alone and it's fun to be with those two."
At the end of the day, Mantha has simple goals for the remainder of the year.
"I want to accomplish being a reliable player. I think that's huge," he said. "They say you've got to be good in this league before you go up to the next one. I just want to accomplish being a reliable player on the ice and being used in key situations."