{"id":535112,"date":"2026-04-01T17:48:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T17:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/535112\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T17:48:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T17:48:24","slug":"anthony-manthas-resurgence-is-fueling-penguins-playoff-push-the-hockey-writers-pittsburgh-penguins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/535112\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Mantha\u2019s Resurgence Is Fueling Penguins\u2019 Playoff Push – The Hockey Writers – Pittsburgh Penguins"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> signed Anthony Mantha<\/a> to a modest one-year, $2.5 million deal<\/a> during the offseason, expectations were tempered. He was a low-risk bet \u2014 a reclamation project for a player who had shown flashes of dominance but struggled with consistency throughout his career.<\/p>\n

As we near the end of the 2025-26 season, that gamble has paid off massively. Mantha is in the midst of a true breakout campaign, producing at a top-six level while playing alongside elite talent like Sidney Crosby<\/a> and Evgeni Malkin<\/a>. Not only has he revitalized his own career, but he has also become a key driver behind the Penguins\u2019 push to remain competitive in a tightly contested Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

Mantha\u2019s Career Year Fueled by Opportunity<\/p>\n

Through 75 games, Mantha has 30 goals and 58 points \u2014 putting him on pace for career highs in both. His 0.77 points-per-game pace is the most efficient<\/a> of his NHL career and reflects a player who has finally found the right role and environment to succeed.<\/p>\n

\"SamMontreal Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Mantha (Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just his raw production, but how he\u2019s generating it. Mantha has been deployed in the Penguins\u2019 top six, where he\u2019s consistently skating with Crosby or Malkin at even strength. That alone elevates a player\u2019s offensive ceiling, but Mantha has done more than ride shotgun \u2014 he\u2019s been an active contributor in puck battles, offensive zone entries, and finishing plays around the net.<\/p>\n

Related: Penguins\u2019 Penalty Killing & Goaltending Issues Remain With Playoffs Approaching<\/a><\/p>\n

His size (6-foot-5, over 230 pounds) has always been a tool, but this season he\u2019s using it far more effectively. He\u2019s driving the net, creating space for his linemates, and winning physical battles that extend offensive possessions. Combined with his natural scoring touch, it\u2019s made him a difficult matchup for opposing defenses.<\/p>\n

Mantha Thriving on the Power Play<\/p>\n

Another major factor in Mantha\u2019s resurgence has been his role on the Penguins\u2019 first power-play unit<\/a>. Playing alongside Crosby and Malkin on the man advantage is a luxury \u2014 but it also comes with pressure to produce. Mantha has embraced that role, becoming a reliable net-front presence and secondary shooting option.<\/p>\n

His ability to screen goaltenders, retrieve rebounds, and finish plays in tight has added a new dimension to Pittsburgh\u2019s power play. Defenders can no longer solely focus on Crosby\u2019s playmaking or Malkin\u2019s one-timer \u2014 Mantha forces teams to account for a legitimate scoring threat in the slot. The result? A more balanced and unpredictable power play that has helped the Penguins convert at key moments throughout the season.<\/p>\n

Mantha a Perfect Fit in Pittsburgh\u2019s System<\/p>\n

For years, the narrative around Mantha was his inconsistency. There were stretches when he looked like a dominant power forward, followed by long periods of invisibility. In Pittsburgh, that inconsistency has been minimized.<\/p>\n

Head coach Dan Muse has put Mantha in a position to succeed by simplifying his role. Rather than asking him to carry a line or create offense on his own, the Penguins have leaned into his strengths \u2014 finishing, net-front presence, and complementary scoring.<\/p>\n

That structure has allowed Mantha to play a more direct, effective game. He\u2019s not overhandling the puck. He\u2019s not forcing plays. Instead, he\u2019s making quick decisions, getting to scoring areas, and capitalizing on opportunities created by elite teammates. It\u2019s a formula that has unlocked one of the most productive stretches of his career.<\/p>\n

Mantha\u2019s Impact on the Penguins\u2019 Success<\/p>\n

The Penguins\u2019 season has been defined by their ability to stay relevant in a competitive playoff race, and Mantha has played a significant role in that. Secondary scoring has been a longstanding issue for the team. Opponents could focus on Crosby and Malkin, knowing that depth production behind them was inconsistent at best.<\/p>\n

Mantha has helped change that narrative. His presence in the top six gives the Penguins a legitimate third scoring threat, which forces opposing teams to spread their defensive attention. That, in turn, creates more space for Crosby and Malkin to operate \u2014 a ripple effect that elevates the entire offense.<\/p>\n

Additionally, his physicality and size add an element that Pittsburgh has lacked. In tighter, playoff-style games, having a forward who can win battles along the boards and establish a net-front presence becomes even more valuable. Simply put, Mantha has made the Penguins harder to play against \u2014 and that\u2019s a major reason they\u2019ve remained in the postseason conversation.<\/p>\n

Mantha Playing for a Payday<\/p>\n

With all of this success comes the inevitable question: What does Mantha\u2019s next contract look like? At 31 years old and coming off a career year, he\u2019s positioned himself for a significant raise. A jump from $2.5 million to a $6 million range annually is not out of the question \u2014 especially given the rising salary cap and the premium placed on scoring wingers. <\/p>\n

Teams across the league are always searching for players who can produce in the top six while also contributing on the power play, and Mantha checks both boxes. The term will be the more interesting factor.<\/p>\n

Given his age, teams may hesitate to commit to a long-term deal beyond four or five years. However, if Mantha prioritizes security, he could push for a longer contract in the five- to six-year range, potentially taking him through the remainder of his prime and into the latter stages of his career.<\/p>\n

For the Penguins, the decision becomes more complicated. Do they reward Mantha for his breakout season and lock him in as a core piece moving forward? Or do they view this as a peak year and remain cautious about committing long-term dollars?<\/p>\n

Penguins Have a Critical Decision Ahead<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt that Mantha has earned a raise. The question is whether Pittsburgh is willing \u2014 or able \u2014 to give it to him. <\/p>\n

\"PittsburghPittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby celebrates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks with teammates (Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

With significant money already committed to core players like Crosby and Malkin, cap flexibility will be a factor. The Penguins must carefully balance rewarding current performance with maintaining long-term roster flexibility. That said, letting Mantha walk after a season like this would create a massive hole in the top six \u2014 one that wouldn\u2019t be easy to fill on the open market.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/p>\n

Mantha\u2019s 2025-26 season has been a perfect example of a player finding the right fit at the right time. In Pittsburgh, he\u2019s been given the opportunity, structure, and linemates needed to thrive \u2014 and he\u2019s delivered in a big way.<\/p>\n

Now, as he approaches free agency, Mantha has turned a prove-it deal into a potentially life-changing contract. Whether that next deal comes from Pittsburgh or elsewhere, one thing is certain: He has re-established himself as a legitimate top-six winger \u2014 and he\u2019ll get paid like one.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When the Pittsburgh Penguins signed Anthony Mantha to a modest one-year, $2.5 million deal during the offseason, expectations…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":535113,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5113],"tags":[10448,5,4,118,1469,100,5216],"class_list":{"0":"post-535112","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pittsburgh-penguins","8":"tag-anthony-mantha","9":"tag-hockey","10":"tag-nhl","11":"tag-penguins","12":"tag-pittsburgh","13":"tag-pittsburgh-penguins","14":"tag-pittsburghpenguins"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116330714242462361","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=535112"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535112\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/535113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=535112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=535112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=535112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}