Anthony Mantha’s first 10 games in New Jersey have done little to change the view that the Penguins made the right call.
After a standout season in Pittsburgh, Mantha entered free agency with the kind of numbers that usually lead to a hefty payday. Instead, the market never really met those expectations, and he landed a modest two-year deal with the Devils worth $9.55 million. At the time, that looked like a clean bargain.
So far, it hasn’t played out that way.
Through his first 10 games with New Jersey, Mantha has managed just two goals and one assist, a total of three points that falls well short of what the Devils were hoping for when they signed him. For a player coming off a huge year with the Penguins, the opening stretch has been a sharp drop-off.
That Pittsburgh season was the best of Mantha’s career. On a one-year prove-it deal, the veteran winger delivered 33 goals and 31 assists for 64 points in 81 games. It was the kind of production that typically turns into a major free-agent windfall, but Mantha’s market came in much lower than expected.
The Penguins clearly could have kept him if they wanted to, but they chose a different path. Rather than committing to a longer-term contract and taking on the risk that comes with Mantha’s profile, they moved on while trying to get younger.
For now, that decision looks justified. Pittsburgh has stumbled through its first 10 games of the season as well, and Mantha hasn’t found his stride in New Jersey. Neither side has gotten off to the start it wanted.
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Islanders Still Stuck Waiting On A Real Mathew Barzal Update
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For a team already navigating the usual in-season attrition, the absence adds another layer of uncertainty to a lineup that has to stay flexible on the fly. Hayes gets the recall opportunity, while the broader picture remains focused on how long Pittsburgh can keep absorbing these temporary absences without it affecting the rhythm of the roster. [Read more 🡒]