​Things have quieted considerably on the free-agent market in recent days, and players still unsigned face fewer options than they did on July 1. BPM Sports contributor Marc-Olivier Beaudoin reports that the Montreal Canadiens have shown interest in Anthony Mantha, the 31-year-old forward who began his career as a first-round pick with the Detroit Red Wings. This season has marked a remarkable bounce-back for Mantha with the Pittsburgh Penguins, as he totaled 64 points in 81 games, the best single season of his career.
Although some critics attribute his productivity to his linemates, Mantha did spend the first two quarters of the season alongside Evgeny Malkin, earning 29 points during that stretch. His peak production came in the final two quarters, when he added 35 points while skating with teammates such as Ben Kindell and Tommy Novak, among others. Over the course of a season, he posted a 0.79 point-per-game pace; only once before, in 2019-20 with Detroit, did he match or exceed that level, notching 38 points in 43 games for a 0.88 PPG.
That 2019-20 surge led Detroit to sign him to a four-year contract carrying a $5.7 million cap hit, a deal the Wings would later regret. He was traded away midway through the following season after recording 21 points in 42 games. The Wings finished the season with the Washington Capitals, adding eight more points for a total of 29 in 56. The next three seasons saw 23, 27, and 44 points, though health issues limited him to 37, 67, and 74 games respectively. In the final year of his deal, Detroit traded him to Vegas, and he ultimately signed with Calgary for a one-year, $3.5 million contract. His stint with the Flames was curtailed by a knee injury that required ACL reconstruction after just 13 games and seven points, followed by a season-ending rehabilitation. He later signed with the Penguins for a one-year, $2.5 million cap hit last July.
Physically, Mantha isn’t an enforcer—recording 52 hits in 81 games this past season—but he brings substantial size at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. After a career year, the winger is seeking both a raise and a longer-term commitment; however, Beaudoin notes that the Canadiens appear to prefer a short-term deal with him. Given Mantha’s injury history and the tendency for short-term agreements to boost his value in the near term, the likelihood of a long-term match with Montreal seems unlikely at this juncture.
This situation mirrors past cap maneuvers: much like when Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin previously entertained a two-year offer sheet with Jonathan Marchessault, only for the forward to sign a more lucrative five-year pact with full no-move protection elsewhere, Montreal’s interest in Mantha could hinge on a shorter deal if he’s amenable to it. If Mantha remains fixed on a longer, more lucrative arrangement, Montreal may remain cautious, particularly given the aftershocks of injuries and the instability that can accompany a player who has bounced around several teams in recent years.
If Mantha doesn’t land the deal he wants, the Canadiens may reassess their options in the free-agent pool. With fewer suitors for players who haven’t signed yet, Mantha’s market could tighten further, potentially pushing him toward a cap-friendly, short-term arrangement that aligns with Montreal’s current strategic priorities. In the end, the decision may come down to whether Mantha values a stable, shorter-term contract with a team that can provide him the opportunity to reestablish his prime form, or whether he pushes for a higher longer-term commitment that may be more difficult to secure given recent circumstances.