The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team has signed forward Anthony Mantha to a two-year contract worth $9,500,000 with an average annual value of $4,750,000. The contract breakdown is as follows: 2026-27: $5,400,000 and 2027-28: $4,100,000. This was announced by CEO Sunny Mehta.
Mantha, 31, had 64 points (33g-31a) in 81 games with the Penguins last season, his first 30-goal campaign in the NHL. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound forward’s goals, assists and total points in 2025-26 set single-season career highs. Mantha’s 33 goals ranked first among the Penguins, and his 64 points ranked third among all Pittsburgh forwards. The left-shot’s seven power-play goals ranked third on the team in 2025-26 and were his most power-play goals in 2025-26. season since the 2018/19 season for Detoit.
Mantha spent parts of seven seasons with the Detroit organization at both the American Hockey League (AHL) and NHL levels from 2014-15 through 2020-21. He recorded 194 points (95-99a) in 302 regular-season games with the Red Wings and scored consecutive 20-goal seasons from 2017-18 to 2018-19. On April 12, 2021, Mantha was traded to Washington, where he spent parts of the next three seasons. Mantha was traded to Vegas in March 2024 and then signed by Calgary as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2024. He has totaled 367 career points (179g-188a) in 588 regular season games since making his NHL debut with Detroit on March 15, 2016. The veteran forward has Stanley Cup Playoff experience, having played in 11 postseason games with Washington from 2020-21 to 2021-22, three with Vegas in 2023-24 and six with Pittsburgh last season.
Manta was born on September 16, 1994 in Longueuil, Quebec and was selected by Detroit among 20th Overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He made his professional debut with Detroit in the AHL in Grand Rapids during the 2014-15 season and recorded 88 career points (44g-44a) in 132 games with Grand Rapids. Prior to his professional experience, Mantha spent parts of four seasons in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with Val-d’Or Foreurs from 2010-11 to 2013-14. He led all QMJHL skaters with 50 goals in the 2012–13 season and then again with 57 goals in his final season with Val d’Or.
In his final season in the QMJHL, Mantha earned numerous awards, including the Jean Beliveau Trophy, which is awarded to the player with the most points in the league. Mantha also received the Michel Brier Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s most valuable player. He helped Val d’Or to the QMJHL (Gilles-Courtaud Trophy) title in the 2013–14 season, scoring 38 points and leading all skaters with 24 goals in the team’s postseason run. On the international stage, he represented Canada at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championships (WJC) and the 2014 World Junior Championships. Mantha helped Canada win a bronze medal at the 2012 tournament and a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.