- Career-high 33 goals and 64 points on a one-year, $2.5M Penguins prove-it deal
- Kyle Dubas said Mantha was “pretty clear” about his free-agency plans in their exit interview
- Read below for the projected payday and video from the Dubas season-ending presser
Anthony Mantha bet on himself in Pittsburgh. He’s about to cash that bet in somewhere else.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas all but confirmed Mantha is headed to free agency on July 1, telling reporters during his end-of-season presser that the 31-year-old winger was upfront in his exit interview.
Dubas was asked what came out of that sit-down:
“I talked directly to Anthony in his exit interview. I haven’t had any discussions with his agent. He was pretty clear with me what his intentions are, and I think that’s private and personal for him. It’s not on me to say that here publicly, but we’ll see how all the other things materialize, and then we can always circle back.”
Watch the full Dubas presser:
Mantha signed a one-year, $2.5 million prove-it deal with Pittsburgh last July after a torn ACL limited him to just 13 games with Calgary in 2024-25. He more than proved he could still play. He led the Penguins in goal-scoring with 33 in 81 games, added 31 assists for a career-best 64 points, and matched his personal high with 13 power-play points.
That bounceback earned him Pittsburgh’s Masterton Trophy nomination, an award given to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Catch Mantha at his end-of-season locker cleanout meeting:
The payday should follow. AFP Analytics projects Mantha at four years and just under $25.5 million, an AAV of $6.4 million. That’s nearly triple what he played for in Pittsburgh this season.
There’s a catch. Mantha disappeared once the playoffs started, recording one assist in six games as the Flyers ended Pittsburgh’s run in the first round. He still has not scored a playoff goal across 20 postseason games with Washington, Vegas, and the Penguins.
A 6-foot-5 winger who can rip 30-plus is going to find buyers anyway. Mantha turns 32 before next season, so this is realistically his last shot at a long-term deal.
Pittsburgh’s bigger question is across the locker room. Dubas has already said he wants Evgeni Malkin back for a 21st year, and the Penguins have roughly $42 million in cap space to sort that out plus the rest of their expiring deals. Most of it isn’t going to the guy who just led them in goals.
