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Penguins rumors: Pittsburgh could re-sign Anthony Mantha under 1 condition
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- Penguins rumors: Pittsburgh could re-sign Anthony Mantha under 1 condition
Penguins rumors: Pittsburgh could re-sign Anthony Mantha under 1 condition appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Pittsburgh Penguins were one of the NHL's biggest surprises in 2025-26, ending a three-year playoff drought after winning 41 games and finishing second in the Metropolitan Division.
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Although the campaign ended with a six-game first-round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers , it represented meaningful progress for a franchise that had spent the previous few years on the outside looking in.
Anthony Mantha helped drive that turnaround.
The veteran winger enjoyed one of his best seasons, scoring a career-high 33 goals while adding 64 points in 81 regular-season games. His production dipped in the playoffs, however, as he managed just one assist and accumulated 20 penalty minutes in six contests.
Still, Mantha is expected to command a substantial raise from the $2.5 million cap hit he carried in 2025-26.
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Although Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported in May that the pending unrestricted free agent is likely headed to the open market, The Athletic's Josh Yohe outlined a scenario in which a return to Pittsburgh could still be possible .
"I don't think the Penguins are 100 percent against bringing unrestricted free-agent winger Anthony Mantha back, but it's clearly unlikely, as Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas hinted during his season-ending news conference," Yohe wrote earlier this week.
"Postseason aside, there is something to be said for Mantha's 33-goal season. The Penguins' front office and coaching staff like him a lot. On a short-term deal, they'd be happy to bring him back."
That condition may ultimately determine whether a reunion happens.
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"As with [pending UFA Stuart] Skinner, another team will almost certainly offer Mantha a long-term deal. The Penguins' core is already old, and they badly want to get younger. So, they don't plan on offering Mantha, who turns 32 in September, the kind of long-term contract that he's indicated he wants."
Given the current market, it appears more likely than not that Mantha will continue his career elsewhere. Still, a short-term reunion cannot be completely ruled out.
Mantha should have no shortage of interest when free agency opens on July 1. Several teams around the league will be looking to add scoring help on the wing, particularly within their top six.
Whether that demand ultimately develops into a bidding war remains to be seen, but if the market unfolds as expected, Pittsburgh could have a difficult time keeping Mantha in black and gold.
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Related: Penguins rumors: The 'long shot' that could keep Stuart Skinner in Pittsburgh
