Anthony Mantha or Kevin Hayes? The NHL Stat Breakdown

Few NHL comparisons generate more debate than Anthony Mantha vs Kevin Hayes. The numbers reveal a genuinely competitive matchup — Kevin Hayes takes 4 categories while Anthony Mantha claims 2, making this one of the closer head to head comparisons at the RW position. Every statistical category matters in a matchup this tight.

Anthony Mantha's Plus/Minus of -5 compared to Kevin Hayes's -38 represents a 660% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Anthony Mantha's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Goals, where Anthony Mantha posts 180 against Kevin Hayes's 185 — a gap of just 2.8%. Anthony Mantha can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 4-2 tally suggests. In any debate, Goals is the statistical ammunition for the Anthony Mantha side.

Hockey's greatest players accumulate points through both goal scoring and playmaking. The balance between goals and assists often reveals a player's style — pure scorer versus pass-first playmaker.

The verdict favors Kevin Hayes — 4 categories to 2 — but Anthony Mantha makes this far from a one-sided debate. Anyone building the case for Anthony Mantha has real statistical ammunition particularly in Goals where the gap narrows to just 2.8%. The numbers have spoken, but the argument will continue.