Penguins Would Be 'Happy' To Bring Anthony Mantha Back Under One Condition

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Mantha

While it seems like pending unrestricted free agent Anthony Mantha's days in Pittsburgh are coming to an end, that decision isn't cast in stone just yet.

According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, there is still a way for Mantha to return to the Penguins, although it is somewhat unlikely.

There is something to be said for Mantha’s 33-goal season. The Penguins’ front office and coaching staff like him a lot. On a short-term deal, they’d be happy to bring him back. It’s not like they were driving him to the airport after the season.

A short-term deal certainly wouldn't be Mantha's preference, going into his age-32 season.

Here's why Anthony Mantha likely won't accept short-term deal in Pittsburgh

He was forced to take a significant pay cut last summer, signing a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Pens after a lost season in Calgary. But he had a renaissance year in Pittsburgh. His 33 goals and 64 points were career highs, by a long shot.

Now, at the age of 31, he has a chance to cash in and return to a more significant paycheck. He had earned a four-year, $22.8 million deal from the Detroit Red Wings back in 2020 ($5.7M AAV), but made less than half that this past season.

His 2024-25 season with the Flames was cut short to just 13 games after he suffered a torn ACL. He was fortunate that the Penguins took a chance on him with the $2.5M deal this year. Obviously, he was fully recovered, posting those career highs in only 15:11 average ice-time per night.

This will be his last big crack at an extensive contract in free agency, and it seems unlikely that he'd accept the short-term deal in Pittsburgh that Yohe speaks of.

For the record, AFP Analytics projects Mantha for a four-year, $6.3M AAV contract. That's neither short- nor long-term, but the money is likely out of GM Kyle Dubas's comfort zone.