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Penguins Sign Anthony Mantha

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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. 

Penguins Sign Justin Brazeau, Caleb Jones To Two-Year Deals

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The Penguins have signed UFA winger Justin Brazeau to a two-year, $3MM contract with a $1.5MM cap hit, Darren Dreger of TSN reports. The team confirmed that deal and also announced a two-year, $1.8MM contract for defenseman Caleb Jones with a cap hit of $900,000.

While the Penguins haven’t been involved with any of the big-name free agents (as expected), GM Kyle Dubas has been busy adding depth pieces, including signing defender Parker Wotherspoon and bringing back forwards Connor Dewar and Philip Tomasino on one-year deals. The strategy aligns with what Dubas outlined for free agency: targeting players under 30 who can compete for roster spots alongside emerging prospects.

Brazeau, 27, provides the Penguins with a physical depth winger with some offensive upside. The 6-foot-6, 227-pound Brazeau recorded 11 goals and 22 points over 76 games last season, split between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. However, his offensive production dipped during his 19-game stint with the Wild, where he managed just two points while averaging 8:33 of ice time per game. He’ll likely compete for a spot on the Penguins’ bottom-six, with prospects like Joona Koppanen, Avery Hayes, Samuel Poulin, and Filip Hallander waiting in the wings. The Penguins currently have 12 forwards on one-way contracts for next season — not including Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen, who are expected to start the year in Pittsburgh’s lineup — so it’s likely Dubas still has moves to make to trim that group.

Jones, 28, skated in six games for the Los Angeles Kings last season and spent the rest of the season with their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. The lefty has skated in 248 games at the NHL level across seven seasons, producing 14 goals and 55 points. While he’ll compete for a spot on the Penguins’ bottom pairing, he’s likely to start the season in the AHL, where he provides valuable veteran depth if needed.

 

Sharks Acquire Alex Nedeljkovic From Penguins

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The Sharks have sent their 2028 third-round pick to the Penguins in exchange for goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, both clubs announced.

In a clever move by the Sharks, the team has strengthened their goaltending while providing an avenue to playing time for youngster Yaroslav Askarov. Since San Jose isn’t expected to contend for a postseason spot next season, the team has nothing to lose by making Nedeljkovic the starting netminder should Askarov stumble out of the gates. And yet, if Askarov succeeds as planned, Nedeljkovic will revert to a familiar backup role. 

It wasn’t long ago that Nedeljkovic was receiving votes for the Calder Memorial Trophy. During the 2020-21 season with the Carolina Hurricanes, Nedeljkovic managed a 15-5-3 record in 23 games with an impressive .932 SV% and 1.90 GAA. Had he continued that output for even 40 games, he would have had a better case for rookie of the year.

Thinking that they had their answer in net, the Detroit Red Wings acquired Nedeljkovic the following offseason. His time in Detroit was where he became seen as a weak starting, but quality backup netminder, earning a 25-31-11 record in 74 games with a .900 SV% and 3.35 GAA. To be fair to Nedeljkovic, the Red Wings put together a lethargic team in front of him.

Going unqualified after the 2022-23 campaign, Nedeljkovic quickly signed on with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite nearly willing the Penguins to the postseason in his first year with the club, Nedeljkovic finishes his tenure in Pittsburgh with a 32-22-12 record, a .898 SV%, and 3.05 GAA.

PHR’s Brennan McClain contributed significantly to this article. 

Penguins Sign Connor Dewar, Philip Tomasino

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After opting not to issue them a qualifying offer yesterday, the Penguins have brought back forwards Connor Dewar and Philip Tomasino on one-year deals, the club announced. Dewar lands a $1.1MM commitment, while Tomasino will earn $1.75MM.

With very few guaranteed roster spots, it made sense for the Penguins to re-sign Dewar and Tomasino. Both players were acquired at different points last season and are young enough to be considered consistent options in Pittsburgh.

Already 26 years old, Dewar is a bottom-six forward through and through. He has played for three different organizations over three seasons, accumulating 21 goals and 47 points in 203 games, along with a -16 rating while with the Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Penguins. He’s spent some time down the middle, but he’s better used on the wing.

Similarly, Pittsburgh acquired Tomasino last season, hoping to get some value from the former 24th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft. He played fairly well for the Penguins after coming over from the Nashville Predators, scoring 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games, averaging 13:27 of ice time.

Tomasino’s offensive talents are well known at this point, but without his defensive capabilities improving, it’s challenging for the Penguins to give him increased opportunity. At any rate, given they haven’t qualified for the postseason in two years, and not being expected to in 2025-26, Pittsburgh quite literally has nothing to lose but giving Tomasino a shot at top-six minutes and see if he can live up to his draft billing and the talents that made him such a prized prospect to begin with.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was first to report Dewar was returning to Pittsburgh.

PHR’s Brennan McClain contributed significantly to this article. 

Penguins Sign Parker Wotherspoon To Two-Year Deal

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The Penguins have signed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to a two-year, $2MM contract with a $1MM cap hit, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Irfaan Gaffar report.

Wotherspoon will head to Pittsburgh after climbing his way into the Boston lineup over the last two seasons. He’s had a 10-year pro career, but spent the first seven seasons fully with the Bridgeport Islanders. He stood as a heavy-set defender capable of making plays on both sides of the puck, and racking up lofty point and penalty minutes. Wotherspoon had a career-year in 2021-22, with 24 points and 127 penalty minutes across 57 games in Bridgeport — good for the team lead among the team’s defenders in both categories. It was on the heels of that season that Wotherspoon, then 25 years old, received his first taste of NHL action. He split the 2022-23 season between the NHL and AHL lineups, but only amassed one assist and one fight through the first 12 games of his NHL career.

The brief stint with the Islanders was enough to catch attention from across the Eastern Conference. The Bruins brought Wotherspoon in on a one-year, league-minimum contract in 2023 and again platooned him between the major and minor league rosters. He found a similar stride in a Bruins’ jersey, netting eight assists, 31 penalty minutes, and a plus-six through 41 NHL games in 2023-24. He added an additional two assists in 10 playoff games that year. The hardy role might not have resulted in electric scoring, but it was enough to earn Wotherspoon the clear role of Boston’s seventh-defenseman this season. He wasn’t assigned to the minors at any point this year – a career first – and even managed to score his first NHL goal en route to seven points, 10 penalty minutes, and a minus-10 in 55 games.

Wotherspoon will be a depth defender in Pittsburgh, but could offer up a reliable third-pair option behind Ryan Shea.

PHR’s Gabriel Foley contributed significantly to this article.

Penguins Likely To Sign Depth Veterans In Free Agency

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  • While the Penguins are known to be willing to move out some of their veterans, that doesn’t mean they won’t be quiet in free agency as well. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period notes (Twitter link) that Pittsburgh is expected to pursue some depth veterans in free agency today to fill out their roster.  GM Kyle Dubas is a known proponent of having plenty of depth options to also help fortify their farm team so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them add some veterans even while being open to moving others.

Penguins, Malkin To Meet About Future During Olympic Break

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  • A few weeks ago, Josh Yohe of The Athletic set the stage for a potential Evgeni Malkin trade, reporting that the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t expected to offer him a contract beyond the 2025-26 season. Furthering that point this afternoon, Josh Getzoff, the play-by-play voice of the Penguins, indicated that General Manager Kyle Dubas will meet with Malkin and his representation regarding Malkin’s next steps with the team during next year’s Olympic break. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee a trade, as Malkin could retire in Pittsburgh after next season. Still, if he has any hopes of contending for one last Stanley Cup, he and his representation will negotiate a trade away from the Penguins by next season’s deadline.

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Penguins Hire Mike Stothers As Assistant Coach

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Coaching veteran Mike Stothers is joining Dan Muse’s coaching staff with the Penguins, the team announced Monday.

After ending a playing career that included brief NHL stops with the Flyers and Maple Leafs in the 1980s, Stothers transitioned into coaching as an assistant with the AHL’s Hershey Bears in 1991. That was before Hershey’s days as the Capitals’ affiliate – they were affiliated with the Flyers at the time – and Stothers stayed with the Flyers organization as an AHL assistant when they reached a new affiliation with the Philadelphia Phantoms in 1996. He then landed his first NHL job, serving as an assistant on the Flyers’ bench under Craig Ramsay and Bill Barber for the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.

Stothers has since made more than his fair share of coaching stops in both the professional and junior ranks. He spent time as a head coach with OHL Owen Sound (2002-07), AHL Grand Rapids (2007-08), WHL Moose Jaw (2011-14), and AHL Manchester/Ontario (2014-20). He also worked as an assistant in the NHL with the Thrashers in 2010-11 and most recently with the Ducks from 2021 to 2023.

The 63-year-old is a two-time Calder Cup champion as a coach and will serve as the veteran presence on an extremely young Pittsburgh coaching staff. It’ll be a big bench with four assistants instead of the standard three to help Muse, 42, as a first-time NHL head coach. The Penguins also have former player Nick Bonino on their staff in his first coaching role, following his retirement announcement.

Penguins Looking To Add One Additional Coach

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  • The Penguins may have recently announced multiple coaching hires, but the team is still looking to add one additional assistant coach, per Shelly Anderson of Pittsburgh Hockey Now. General manager Kyle Dubas recently discussed new head coach Dan Muse’s staff and confirmed the team intends to hire an assistant specifically to oversee the Penguins’ defense. Dubas also discussed the role each recently hired assistant would have next season, with Todd Nelson tasked with running the power play and Rich Clune serving as an “eye in the sky” and helping with development. Recently retired Nick Bonino will support the team with faceoffs and will learn the ins and outs of coaching, Anderson passes along.

Penguins Acquire Connor Clifton, Pick 39 From Sabres

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenders Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau.

On the surface, this move comes as quite a surprise, with Buffalo sending a high second-round pick and veteran depth defender for two options that don’t seem assured in the NHL. Clifton joined the Sabres on a three-year, $9.99MM contract last summer. He appeared in 73 games with the club this season, and recorded a fairly moot one goal, 16 points, 45 penalty minutes, and minus-six. It was the first year that Clifton recorded minimal scoring and a negative plus-minus since the 2021-22 season, when he managed 10 points and a minus-two in 60 games with the Boston Bruins. He offered the Sabres a hefty, physical upside this season but wasn’t able to use that to command play on either side of the puck with much confidence.

It’s that fact that could make this a lucrative deal for the Sabres. Timmins appeared in 68 games this season, split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Penguins. It was the first fully healthy season of his NHL career, after he spent the previous five years battling through routine injury or assignments to the minor leagues. With health back on his side, Timmins chipped in 15 points, 30 penalty minutes, and a plus-11 across the full season – a statline that doesn’t fall too far shy of what Clifton achieved in Buffalo. Those marks bring Timmins’ career totals up to 46 points, 64 penalty minutes, and a plus-21 in 159 games. He’s already appeared in games with four different clubs, including the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes. He’ll now head to a sixth club with a wave of health, and look to take a full stride forward in what’s sure to be an important role in Buffalo.

Buffalo will also add minor-league prospect Belliveau in this move. The physical 6-foot-2 defender was once a highly-regarded draft prospect, though he fell to the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft following the QMJHL’s shortened season. He seemed to outperform that draft slot quickly, with double-digit goals and positive plus-minuses in each of his final two seasons in juniors — but Belliveau has struggled to carry his impact into the pro flight. He’s spent the last two seasons predominantly in the ECHL, recording 38 points in 70 games last season and 16 points in 25 games this year. He was also rewarded 22 appearances in the AHL this season, where he managed seven points and a plus-six. Belliveau is a responsible defensive-defenseman who plays well above his 185-pound frame. He’s imposing in the corners and uses his stick to shut down opponents. But with slow feet and the need for more jump, his projection to the NHL could be a long road. The Sabres will hope that their bet on Timmins pays off, as it will be the clear focal point of this deal.

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