July 2: It took a while to finalize, but a one-year deal is being finalized between the Penguins and Mantha, per Renaud Lavoie of TVA. He’ll land a $2.5MM base salary with up to $2MM in additional performance bonuses, which he’s eligible for as a veteran of at least 400 NHL games who spent at least 100 days on injured reserve in the previous season. His performance bonuses will pay out $250K for each set of 10 games he plays, per PuckPedia.
July 1: The Penguins are working on a contract for UFA winger Anthony Mantha, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports.
As expected, Pittsburgh is operating around the fringes during this free agency period. Mantha is coming off a down season with the Calgary Flames, scoring only three goals and seven points in 13 games before having his season cut short by injuring his ACL and requiring surgery.
Still, he’s only one season removed from having a quality year between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights. During the 2023-24 campaign, Mantha scored 20 goals and 34 points in 56 games with the Capitals, before scoring another three goals and 10 points in 10 games with the Golden Knights after being moved at that season’s trade deadline.
If the Penguins promote some of their younger players to more significant roles next season, Mantha will provide stability at the lower end of their forward lineup. If players like Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen struggle with the increased ice time, Mantha will likely be allowed to play in the team’s top six.
Already 30 years old, Mantha could find far worse centers to play next to than Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. By happenstance, Mantha could have a quality rebound season next to two of the game’s most prominent players, and look to capitalize on that financially next offseason.
PHR’s Brennan McClain contributed significantly to this article.
So the Pens and Bruins really are in a race to play the “Who gets the #1 pick in 2026?” game.
Trotz is still in the lead for #1!
Honestly, a better player than I thought we’d get today. Hopefully a cheap one year deal that can be moved for a second round pick in March.
He’ll dazzle you for 2 or 3 shifts and take rest of the year off
you should have seen enough of him when the Pens played the Caps to know better
I saw him get traded for a 2nd (and a 4th).
Mantha was playing really well in Calgary before the season ending injury, Big body as well, And he has something to prove.
Did…did we sign Mantha, though?
Still not listed as official anywhere.
Took a while, but now you did!
If he only applied himself he could be a star. Just does not seem like he’s interested in playing a full 60 minutes every game.
Win win deal. Mantha gets a chance to rebound, and if that happens the Pens can trade him to a contender at the deadline
2.5 is a fair deal. Could be worth 4 mil or so in value
We (theoretically) already have our top nine wings…
Rakell and Rust
McGroarty and Koivunen
Novak and Tomasino
Maybe they use Novak at C but he played LW for the little time he was here.
This suggests to me that one of Rust or Rakell gets moved this summer and Mantha takes their spot.