6'5" 25-Goal Scorer Emerges as Top Free Agency Option for the Penguins After Down Year

The Calgary Flames signed Anthony Mantha on a one-year deal for 2024/25, and unfortunately for the veteran forward, he lasted just 13 games before suffering an ACL injury that ended his season.

In that time, Mantha tallied 4 goals and 7 points over those 13 games, and while he consistently flashed his offensive brilliance, his all around game wasn't at the level that many in Calgary had of hoped.

Now, the 30-year old veteran is set to hit free agency on the back of an injury riddled campaign, and while he's not going to be the saviour of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, he could become a genuine option for the team moving forward.

In 2023/24, Mantha had a combined 23 goals between Washington and Vegas, with the veteran passing 25 goals three times in his career thus far, and with the likelihood of him taking a minimum contract being very high, the Penguins could get a steal this summer.

It's unclear what the market will be for Mantha, as his ceiling is well known around the league as a veteran goal scorer that isn't likely to play hard on the defensive end, but if he can play alongside veterans like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, he may still have plenty of gas left in the tank.

Ultimately, the Penguins should be looking to get younger, but in Mantha they could find a veteran motivated for a bounce back season, and if they can do that and flip him at the deadline for assets if they're out of Stanley Cup Playoffs contention, it's a win-win for this team moving forward.