Only a few months after being traded by the Washington Capitals to the Vegas Golden Knights over the trade deadline, Anthony Mantha will be joining yet another new team.
After playing in 21 games for the team, Mantha claims he was informed by the Golden Knights that his services will not be continued. This summer, the 29-year-old winger will become a free agent without restrictions for the first time in his career.
Google Translated: “Vegas made it clear that they were not going to put me back under contract,” Mantha said to RDS’s Catherine Savoie. “As everything gets into gear, I’m anxious as well as thrilled. Whether it’s July 1st or a little later, we’ll see. I’m hoping for some positive news.
For the first time since the 2018–19 season, when he was a member of the Detroit Red Wings, Mantha rebounded to score 20 goals in a season after a difficult 2022–23 season with the Capitals under head coach Peter Laviolette. Early in March, Washington leveraged its increased confidence in its ability to score to acquire two draft picks from the Golden Knights.
Mantha scored 10 points (3g, 7a) in 18 games during the regular season for Vegas, but failed to score in three postseason contests. Bruce Cassidy, the Golden Knights bench boss, rested him for the final four games of their first-round series against the Dallas Stars in order to maintain his health.
Vegas’ severe salary constraint problems together with Mantha’s lack of postseason performance probably made him unnecessary for their roster needs. With just $6.1 million in budget space, the Golden Knights have already signed 20 players for the upcoming season, the majority of whom are dependent on goalie Robin Lehner’s potential LTIR status.
Mantha will be back in the DC region this coming weekend, according to RDS. Following a few weeks in his native Quebec, the former Capitals winger intends to complete his summer training at the same location where he spent the previous four seasons.
The second child of Mantha and Caitlyn is expected to be born shortly. In late January, the pair declared that August would be the due month.
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