The Penguins announced during another three player ordeal that they have signed Winger Anthony Mantha to a one year deal carrying an annual value of $2.5 million and the potential to earn another two million in signing bonuses.
The signing bonuses will pay out based on games played, every 10 GP he will earn a $250k bonus and will earn the full $2 million bonus if he plays at least 80 games or more with the Penguins this season.
Anthony Mantha signed a one year deal with the @penguins with a base salary of $2.5M and if he’s healthy another $2M in bonuses is available to him.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 2, 2025
Mantha, 30, played only 13 games last season, racking up three goals, seven assists, 10 points in 13 games played before suffering a season ending ACL injury which required surgery which ended his 2024-25 season.
Mantha brings 507 games of NHL experience to the Penguins organization with 146 goals and 157 assists, 303 points over his 11 season career. Mantha has played with the Red Wings, Capitals, Golden Knights, Flames organizations.
Dubas broke a small part of his rebuild to bring in Mantha
Kyle Dubas before free agency began stated he wanted to bring players in their 20's to mid 20's on two to three year deals to carry from the rebuild into contention stage with the Penguins. Well he's just broken that rule as he has signed 30 year old Mantha to a one year deal which goes against his plan of fueling the youth movement here in Pittsburgh.
Mantha most likely will be a trade piece at the 2026 Trade Deadline
Anthony Mantha will almost guaranteed be a traded at the trade deadline this season to a contending team who wants a big power forward like Mantha to help fill out the bottom six with good production. Dubas stated he wanted roster players and NHL ready prospects instead of draft picks which is now a new ask in price for trading with the Penguins for there assets they have to offer for interested teams.
Anthony Mantha has signed 1x$2.5M with PIT. No player card last year because he got hurt, but he's an efficient scorer with decent speed who pushes play in the right direction. Often maligned because he's 6'5 234 and plays like he's much smaller than that. #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/RqSf5VJgIp
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 2, 2025
Sneaky good add for the Penguins
This is a sneakily good signing for the Penguins who should have brought Anthony Mantha in years ago when they were a contending team, pushing to win just a round and move towards a Stanley Cup. Mantha could strive in the middle six as he fits the scheme of players in the middle six and could rebound after ACL surgery and looming trade rumours of forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.