Canadiens Show Interest in Signing Anthony Mantha After Impressive Season

As the NHL free-agent landscape has quieted in recent days, the Montreal Canadiens are reportedly eyeing 31-year-old forward Anthony Mantha, according to BPM Sports’ Marc-Olivier Beaudoin. After a challenging few seasons, Mantha has rebounded in a big way with the Pittsburgh Penguins, racking up 64 points in 81 games, marking the best season of his career.

Critics may argue that his success can be attributed to his linemates, particularly during the first half of the season when he skated alongside the talented Evgeny Malkin and accumulated 29 points. However, it was in the latter half of the season that Mantha truly shined, contributing 35 points while playing with a mix of teammates, including Ben Kindell and Tommy Novak.

With a scoring rate of 0.79 points per game, Mantha’s resurgence is notable. His previous peak came in the 2019-20 season with the Detroit Red Wings, where he averaged 0.88 PPG. Detroit had signed him to a four-year contract with a $5.7 million cap hit following that season—a decision they later regretted as he struggled to replicate that success, leading to a trade mid-season. He would finish that year with the Washington Capitals, adding eight points to his total.

His subsequent seasons in the NHL have seen point totals of 23, 27, and 44, but injuries plagued his performance, limiting him to 37, 67, and 74 games respectively. A trade to the Vegas Golden Knights marked the end of his initial contract, and he subsequently took a pay cut to sign with the Calgary Flames for one season at $3.5 million. Unfortunately, his time in Calgary was cut short due to a knee injury that required surgery, leading him to sign a one-year deal with the Penguins last July, which came with a $2.5 million cap hit.

Mantha’s physicality has been questioned; he registered just 52 hits in the 81 games last season. Nevertheless, his size at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds adds a different dimension to his game. Following his career year, he is seeking both a pay raise and a long-term contract. However, Beaudoin reports that the Canadiens are only interested in a short-term deal, likely due to Mantha’s injury history and the fact that he has performed better on shorter contracts.

This situation mirrors a previous instance when Canadiens GM Kent Hughes pursued Jonathan Marchessault, who opted for a five-year deal with the Nashville Predators instead of a two-year offer from Montreal. If Mantha does not find a suitable contract on the market, a return to the Canadiens could be in the cards, but it appears that neither party is eager for a short-term arrangement. Hughes has consistently indicated a preference for not acquiring older players who might hinder the development of younger talent within the organization.

With the start of the season approaching, it will be interesting to see if Hughes adopts a more patient approach, monitoring the market for potential trades. Should teams struggle early on, they may reconsider their positions on player availability, opening up possibilities for the Canadiens.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.