The Calgary signed unrestricted free agent and former Washington Capitals left-wing Anthony Mantha to a one-year contract that will carry a $3.5 million cap hit after the market opened at 12 noon ET on Monday.
The 29-year-old posted 20 goals (just two behind center Dylan Strome’s for the team lead) and 34 points (fourth) in 56 games with Washington before the team sent Mantha to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 5 in exchange for the 2024 52nd overall pick (defenseman Leon Muggli) and Vegas’ 2026 fourth-round pick as they were seven points out of a postseason spot at the time of the trade.
Mantha posted three goals and 10 points in 18 regular-season games with Vegas before getting held scoreless in the postseason, where he was a healthy scratch for the Golden Knights’ final four contests of their seven-game series loss against the Dallas Stars in the first round.
In 174 career games with Washington after getting acquired in a blockbuster deal that sent left-wing Jakub Vrana, the 22nd overall pick in 2021, and 52nd overall pick in 2022 to the Detroit Red Wings on April 11, 2021, Mantha recorded 44 goals and 92 points. He was the first Capital ever to score in each of his first four games with the team.
In 494 career NHL games with Washington, Detroit, and Vegas, Mantha has 142 goals and 296 points. He also has recorded six assists in 14 career postseason games.
Washington reportedly shopped Mantha last offseason after he recorded 11 goals and 27 points in 67 games in 2022-23, where he was often a healthy scratch under head coach Peter Laviolette, but could not find a taker.
By Harrison Brown
