Report: Canadiens Honing In On UFA Anthony Mantha

Unrestricted free agent Anthony Mantha picked a good time to have a career year. The 31-year-old blew away his career highs this past season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with 33 goals and 64 points. Now he feels he has a chance to cash in as a UFA. 

The Montreal Canadiens are interested. But on a short-term deal only. Marc-Olivier Beaudoin of BPM Sports tells us that the Habs have "a willingness to team up on a (very) short-term basis, while Mantha would be looking for a medium/long-term contract."

So will this get done? There is talk that the two sides are trying to hash something out. One unsubstantiated report says they are meeting this weekend.

#BreakingnNews Anthony Mantha and Kent Hughes are meeting today to discuss a possible 2 year deal between the forward and the @CanadiensMTL . According to sources KH is trying to convince Mantha on the term (he wants 4+ years) . Stay tuned

— Hockeyy Insiderr (@HockeyyInsiderr) July 11, 2026

Montreal is willing to go two years, but Mantha wants at least four years. 

This is all not very surprising. Before last year's 31-year-old breakout, Mantha had had four very disappointing seasons in the previous five years. Kent Hughes is a smart guy. He's likely not going to be fooled into believing Mantha is now suddenly a 33-goal scorer for the rest of his career. The last time Mantha signed a big deal, coming off a successful year, was in 2020. A four-year, $5.7M AAV extension with the Detroit Red Wings. He proceeded to have three consecutive dreadful seasons, averaging 11 goals a year over that span. 

But from Mantha's side, he knows this is his last big chance to score a nice premium on the free agent market. He wants to milk it for all he can. Last year, he settled on a $2.5M "prove it" deal with the Penguins. He proved it, but neither the Pens, nor pretty much anybody else around the NHL seems all that convinced. 

We'll see how these negotiations with the Habs play out.