Devils Bet on Mantha
New Jersey Devils Sign Anthony Mantha to Two-Year, $9.5 Million Contract After Career-Best Season
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Key Points
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Mantha has 0 goals in 20 career playoff games, highlighting a longstanding playoff scoring drought despite a career-high regular-season performance.
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He played in 81 of 82 regular-season games last season, missing only one late in the year as the Penguins rested regulars before the playoffs.
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Mantha is a 6'5
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Drafted 20th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2013 and was long touted for stardom after a 49-goal, two-season stretch (2017-2019).
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Mantha was limited to 13 games in the 2024-25 season with the Calgary Flames after ACL surgery, a factor teams weighed in free agency.
Anthony Mantha is heading to New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils signed the veteran winger to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million, averaging $4.75 million per season, according to ESPN. The deal comes two weeks after the start of unrestricted free agency and rewards Mantha's career-best season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Mantha, 31, set personal records last season with 33 goals and 31 assists in 81 games, per CBS Sports. That 64-point campaign was the strongest of his career. Despite that production, he managed just one assist in six playoff games — continuing a postseason drought that spans 20 career games without a goal.
A Career-Best Season Finally Earns a Big Deal
Mantha had long been seen as a player who never quite lived up to his potential. Drafted 20th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2013, he put up 49 goals over two seasons from 2017 to 2019. Then came injuries, trades, and inconsistency. Last season in Pittsburgh changed the conversation.
He played in 81 of 82 regular-season games — missing only one late in the year when the Penguins rested players. His durability and production gave teams confidence heading into free agency. Daily Faceoff noted the deal was signed roughly two weeks after the free-agency window opened, suggesting Mantha's camp held out for a two-year term rather than settle for a short bridge deal.
ACL Surgery and Injury Risk Shaped the Contract Terms
The deal was not without risk for New Jersey. Mantha played just 13 games in the 2024-25 season with the Calgary Flames after undergoing ACL surgery. That limited sample weighed on teams during free agency. The two-year structure reflects both sides trying to balance value and risk.
The contract pays $5.4 million in the 2026-27 season, according to New Jersey Devils Sign Forward Anthony Mantha. That backloading suggests the Devils expect Mantha to need time to get fully healthy. At 6'5" and with one of the game's hardest shots, his ceiling is high — but so is the uncertainty surrounding his body.
Zero Playoff Goals in 20 Games Remains a Glaring Issue
Mantha's regular-season numbers are real. But his playoff record tells a different story. In 20 career postseason games, he has never scored a goal. Last season he had just one assist in six games as Pittsburgh was eliminated. For a player his size and with his shot, that number is hard to ignore.
The Devils are betting that better linemates and a fresh start will unlock more from Mantha when it matters. New Jersey finished the last season looking to add offensive firepower, and a healthy Mantha fits that need, per Sports SD. Whether he converts in the playoffs remains the biggest question mark on his new contract.
Devils Add Size and Scoring to a Crowded Metropolitan Division
New Jersey plays in the Metropolitan Division — the same division Mantha just left. He will now face the Penguins, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers multiple times a year. His size and shot make him a weapon, especially on the power play, where he has historically done his best work.
The Devils made Mantha one of their bigger offseason moves. At $4.75 million per year, he fills a middle-six role with top-six upside. If he stays healthy and builds on 64 points, New Jersey gets excellent value. If the knee slows him down, the two-year length limits the damage, according to ESPN.
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