A day after the rumors without news confirmation, Renaud Lavioe of the French-speaking outlet TVA Sports reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins’ signing of Anthony Mantha is a done deal.
The team has not yet announced it, but Lavioe reports the deal is one-year for $2.5 million, but the Penguins are also offering another $2 million in bonuses.
Mantha, 30, missed most of last season with the Calgary Flames due to a torn ACL, suffered on Nov. 5. It was a short campaign for the right wing who was hoping to build on a 23-goal season in 2023-24 that was split between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights.
Mantha has long tantalized GMs with his talent but also frustrated teams with his lack of production. The 2013 first-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings (20th overall) has played with four teams, including three over the last two seasons.
In total, Mantha played only 13 games last season, scoring four goals with three assists in just under 14 minutes of ice time for Calgary.
Mantha is a veteran of 507 NHL games over 10 NHL seasons and has scored 146 goals with 303 points.
The move would seem to be a precursor to more potential Penguins trades as Mantha is capable of top-six duties, if healthy. Penguins wingers Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust have been rumored trade targets, and general manager Kyle Dubas has admitted to fielding calls for his veteran players. However, regarding Rust specifically, Dubas said the Penguins were “open for business, but the price is high.”
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The Penguins signed a handful of players on Day 1 of NHL free agency, including re-signing forwards Philip Tomasino and Connor Dewar. Mantha would appear to crowd the forwards group unless one or two are traded away. According to PuckPedia.com, the Penguins now have 15 forwards on the roster and $15.7 million in salary cap space remaining.