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Penguins rumors: Pittsburgh won’t re-sign Anthony Mantha this summer
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- Penguins rumors: Pittsburgh won’t re-sign Anthony Mantha this summer
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Anthony Mantha was terrific for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2025-26 regular season, scoring a career-high 33 goals and 64 points in 81 games. He was a key reason why the franchise returned to the dance after three consecutive misses.
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But he struggled mightily in the postseason, recording just a single assist in six games — as well as 20 penalty minutes — as the Penguins were defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers in the Battle of Pennsylvania.
Mantha is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman speculated, general manager Kyle Dubas won't be shy to let him walk this summer .
"I don't think, unless it's changed recently, it doesn't sound like there'd been a lot of discourse about a contract extension for Anthony Mantha," the hockey insider said on a recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast.
The 31-year-old was playing on a one-year deal worth just $2.5 million, and he will certainly command a significant raise following his regular season performance.
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It's expected that he will be looking for a multi-year deal with a much higher AAV, and if Friedman's reporting is correct, it looks like that is not something Dubas is ready to commit to.
Along with his excellent point totals, Mantha also averaged over 15 minutes of ice time, including two on the powerplay, while dishing out 54 hits. His speed has always been an issue, but he was a key piece of Pittsburgh's middle-six in 2025-26 nonetheless.
The Quebec native is going to have no shortage of suitors on July 1, as there are a number of teams looking to add more scoring from the wing into their top-six.
Whether with the Penguins or not, he will be cashing in this summer, with an AAV of $5 million or more not out of the question.
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As for Dubas and the front office, they'll have some difficult decisions to make, not only regarding Mantha, but also Penguins lifer Evgeni Malkin. He will also be a UFA , and has said he will play in the NHL next year, whether in Pennsylvania or elsewhere.
One thing's for sure: it's going to be an intriguing summer for the Penguins as they look to ensure that this trip to the postseason wasn't a one-off.
Related: 2 early Penguins trade candidates after 1st-round loss to Flyers
