‘Been a Long Time’: Anthony Mantha on Penguins Deal, Previous Pens Offers
Winger Anthony Mantha was the highest-paid Pittsburgh Penguins free agent of the 2025 class, but signed for only $2.5 million with another $2 million in potential bonuses.
Compared to other players making over $14 million per season, Matha’s paltry one-year deal pales in comparison, but the Penguins are not breaking the bank to win this season; instead, general manager Kyle Dubas has plainly said they are offering opportunity for players to play a bigger role than previous teams have given, or in Mantha’s case, have a bounce-back year.
Last off-season, Mantha signed with the Calgary Flames for $3.5 million following his 23-goal season split between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights. It was his third 20-goal season since cracking the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings in 2015-16. However, bad luck was waiting as he tore his ACL in November and missed the remainder of the season after playing just 13 games.
“The video is everywhere on X. My skate is stuck to the right, and then my knee is going to the left,” Mantha explained of his injury. “So, just that torsion, got the ACL straight, just a straight cut, basically.”
The 6-foot-5 Mantha is more of a finesse player than a power forward, and he is no stranger to the Penguins. After three-plus seasons with the Washington Capitals following five-plus seasons with Detroit, he got an up-close look at the Penguins at their very best.
He admitted he’s hoping his rebound year includes plenty of time beside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. There are certainly a few players scattered around the league, both past and present, who got a salary bump after big seasons playing amongst the Penguins’ Hall of Fame centers. Increasing his statistical output would certainly help the Penguins and give them another asset toward the NHL trade deadline, as well as increase his bottom line next summer.
And Mantha admitted this wasn’t the first time he almost signed with the Penguins.
“Last summer, when I was a free agent, (the Penguins) were scooping around. They offered something last summer. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite go that way,” Mantha said. “And then for me, obviously playing 13 games last year, it was kind of–which team would give me a chance? And luckily enough, Pit came through and I think gave me a great opportunity and a great deal. From the start of free agency, it was hard to look past them this year. And, I’m just excited to join the Penguins.”
Unbeknownst to even Mantha, he has direct Pittsburgh lineage. Mantha’s grandfather, Andre Pronovost, won four Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, but also spent more than a year toiling at the Civic Arena for the Pittsburgh Hornets.
He didn’t know until a week ago when his family told him they had spent time in the city. However, Pronovost had never mentioned it. What Mantha and Pronovost do discuss is hockey.
“Obviously, he’ll tell me a lot of stories from back in the day. In juniors, he would watch my games, maybe two or three times, and then he would watch the next game 2 or 3 times. And then after three or four games, he would call me and tell me exactly like–okay, over here, I would have done this instead of that, and that will give you more time; the whole shebang of how to gain more time with the puck, and (play) without the puck,” said Mantha. “He was really focused on that. Over the years, he’s not getting any younger, but he’s still watching the game two or three times a night. He goes to bed and he writes his notes on his little piece of paper, and he’ll call me, (but) not as much. He’ll call me maybe once or twice a month just to look in and see how I’m doing. And then, give me a couple of tips.”
It has been an ordeal for Mantha returning from the most serious injury of his career. At 30, he’s pressing for one more big opportunity and has resumed skating with the goal of being ready for training camp.
In fact, his timeline perfectly aligns with being ready for camp.
“The honest answer is it feels great, but it’s been a long time. I should be ready for camp. That was my main goal when I got surgery,” Mantha said. “I mean, it’s going to be almost ten months post-op at the start of camp, so I should be all set and running. I’ll be ready, that’s the ultimate goal. And that’s exactly what I told Pit when we were talking to each other over the summer. And, that’s my plan.”
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If EK starts the year with the Pens, I’d park Mantha right in front of the crease with his stick on the ice, and EK will find that stick for deflections and tip-ins.
Right, just because he is big you want him in front of the net. Finesse player who often sticks on the perimeter.
Always liked him, shame he if he turns it around, he will be a rental
I would mirror the Anthony Beauillier plan from last year. Get him time with 87 or 71, collect counting stats and then try to move at TDL.