(First in a series of player profiles prior to training camp.)

Anthony Mantha

Position: Right wing

Age: 24 (on Sept. 16)

Height/Weight: 6-5/225

2017-18 stats: 80 games, 24 goals, 24 assists, 48 points, minus-1 rating, 52 penalty minutes.

Career stats: 150 games, 43 goals, 44 assists, 87 points, plus-3 rating, 107 penalty minutes.

Contract: Two years at a cap hit of $3.3 million.

2017-18 in review: Led team in goals, power-play goals (nine) and shooting percentage (12.6). ... Third in points. ... Fourth in power-play points (12). ... Fifth in hits (91). ... Three-game goal-scoring streak (Oct. 31-Nov. 5) tied for longest of season on team. ... Career-high four points at Boston on March 6, tying for team season high. ... Ten multi-point games, including three two-goal games and four three-point games. ... First career Gordie Howe Hat Trick on Nov. 15 vs. Calgary (goal, assist, fight). ... More productive on road (14 goals, 28 points) than home (10 goals, 20 points). ... Scored the first goal in Little Caesars Arena history Oct. 5 vs. Minnesota. ... Missed two games with an injury Dec. 29-31. ... Second in missed shots (77). ... Second among forwards in giveaways (67). ... Average ice time ranked fourth among forwards (17:18).

2018-19 outlook: A prolific goal-scorer in the junior ranks, Mantha is quickly learning what it takes to score in the NHL, with 17 and 24 goals in his first two seasons. He has learned to use his big frame to protect the puck and cycle more, instead of looking to shoot off the rush. Despite the team's poor power play (27th in the NHL), Mantha has adjusted to a net-front role, scoring nine power-play goals after netting just one as a rookie.

Mantha occasionally drew criticism from coach Jeff Blashill for lapses in competitiveness and not moving his feet. They had what was described as a heart-to-heart talk prior to a game in New Jersey on Jan. 22 that both said was productive.

Mantha is driven to improve. He planned on doing some power skating in the off-season. He also wanted to take boxing lessons, not to fight more but to be grittier.

Quotable: "He had a good year, we need him to take a step, he's got that potential, that ability. Once you play 100 games you get a good idea what this league is all about. He's got a good idea what he needs to do in the summer to take his game to another level." - general manager Ken Holland.

Key question: Can Mantha become the first Red Wing to score 30 goals in 10 years (Marian Hossa 40, Johan Franzen 34, Pavel Datsyuk 32, Henrik Zetterberg 31 in 2008-09)?