Missing most of a season following serious knee surgery is about as bad as it gets for a professional hockey player. In 2024-25, Anthony Mantha endured that struggle, and compounding misfortune, he had signed only a one-year, prove-it sort of free agent contract with the Calgary Flames. <\/p>\n
Mantha did not, in fact, prove it with Calgary. But this season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 11-year veteran is having the type of year scouts, coaches, and general managers always knew he could when he was selected 20th overall in 2013 by the Detroit Red Wings, but until this season never had. <\/p>\n
Because of his perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey, the local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, including writers from Pittsburgh Hockey Now, voted Mantha the Penguins\u2019 2026 Masterton Trophy nominee. <\/p>\n
In 78 games, Mantha has 31 goals and 61 points, both are career highs significantly greater than his previous best. Never had Mantha scored more than 25 goals or registered over 48 points. <\/p>\n
When speaking with the handful of local reporters who are members of the PHWA, Mantha admitted he expected the worst as he finished his recovery from ACL surgery. He didn\u2019t expect a contract, but professional tryout offers. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere were some doubts (that I wouldn\u2019t play again). I was kind of mentally preparing myself for a PTO,\u201d said Mantha. \u201cYou know, when it happens, you play 13 games, and Calgary was kind of a prove-it deal, so that\u2019s kind of where the head goes. And I knew I still had some (hockey) in me. Obviously, I knew I was going to work to get back, and here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas did more than offer an invitation to camp. Dubas took a gamble on Mantha, not only giving him a guaranteed contract for $2.5 million, but loading it with a lucrative $250,000 bonus for every 10 games played. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Now with his fifth team, Mantha has handsomely rewarded the Penguins. That\u2019s the what, but the why and how are the silver lining to playing only 13 games last season. <\/p>\n
Mantha, 31, had a lot of time to doubt his future and ponder the worst. Through weeks of downtime and grueling rehab, dark thoughts crept in. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s when Mantha relied on the help of his mental health coach. He spent a lot of time, and he emphasized a lot, with his mental coach, Matt Caldaroni. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked with this mental coach, and obviously called him many, many times during the rehab and after the injury,\u201d Mantha said. \u201cOur sole focus was to be the best version of myself this year, and that was from day one of rehabbing all the way to the start of this year. And obviously, I think I\u2019m there right now, obviously the best results of my career stats wise, but I think just also as a person and as a dad of three now. So it\u2019s pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
He began working with Caldaroni after a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery he underwent while with the Washington Capitals in November 2021. <\/p>\n
Indeed, regardless of the line on which Mantha has played, he has produced. The big 6-foot-5 winger has filled the net and played a bigger game than he has before, regardless of playing with Evgeni Malkin, Tommy Novak, Ben Kindel, and even for a short time with Sidney Crosby. <\/p>\n
\u201cFirst couple of calls with the team where they showed interest in signing me, and those games played bonuses\u2013I mean, they go a long way in them having some confidence in me and taking care of my body,\u201d Mantha said. \u201c(Coach Dan Muse) called me over the summer, and the first conversation we had was that he wanted to get me to 30 goals. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd after the last game, he came up to me and he\u2019s like, you (remember) we talked about it the first time? I was like, \u2018Yeah, we did.\u2019 And so that was a boost of confidence. When I got here, things clicked from the start.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yes, they have. Having overcome knee surgery and having a career year is why Mantha is the Penguins\u2019 Masterton nominee, the first NHL award for which he\u2019s ever been nominated. <\/p>\n
The trophy is named after\u00a0Bill Masterton, the only player to die because of injuries suffered during an NHL game (Jan. 15, 1968). Voters from the PHWA select the winner after each chapter nominates one player. <\/p>\n
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan won the award last season. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang won in 2022-23. <\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: anthony mantha<\/a> masterton trophy<\/a> <\/p>\n