Updated 3x at 12:50 PM: Anthony Mantha has signed a 4-year contract with the Red Wings:
The #RedWings today signed right wing Anthony Mantha to a four-year contract.
Details: https://t.co/SmJaE5rR1K pic.twitter.com/mSSGlwA8rE— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2020
4 years at $5.7M AAV
$4.5M
$5.3M
$6.5M
$6.5M https://t.co/avhMuBvqxe— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) November 3, 2020
LOCKED IN! ? pic.twitter.com/T1aXpPzjvT— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2020
AAV is $5.7M as DET gets a cornerstone locked-in https://t.co/8mTGuvxyb5— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 3, 2020
Here’s the Red Wings’ press release:
| RED WINGS SIGN ANTHONY MANTHA TO FOUR-YEAR DEAL … Forward is Detroit’s Goals-Per-Game Leader Since 2016-17 … DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed right wing Anthony Mantha to a four-year contract. Mantha, 26, completed his fourth full NHL campaign in 2019-20, and ranked among Red Wings leaders with 16 goals (3rd), 22 assists (T3rd) and 38 points (3rd) despite skating in only 43 of the team’s 71 games due to injury. Since earning a full-time NHL role in 2016-17, Mantha leads Detroit in goals-per-game (0.33), and his 82 total goals over that span trails only Dylan Larkin (84) for the team lead. In 260 total NHL games since his debut in 2015-16, the 6-foot-5, 234-pound winger has 173 points (84-89-173) and 171 penalty minutes. Mantha was on pace for his best statistical season in 2019-20, as his 0.88 points-per-game average eclipsed his previous best of 0.71, accomplished in the 2018-19 season when he notched a career-high 25 goals among 48 points (25-23-48) in 67 games for Detroit. During the team’s home opener on Oct. 6, 2019 against the eventual Western Conference-champion Dallas Stars, Mantha became the second player in franchise history (and first since John Sorrell in 1933-34) to record a four-goal game in a home opener, which marked the first four-goal game for Detroit since Johan Franzen scored five on Feb. 2, 2011 at Ottawa. Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the first round (20th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Mantha ranks seventh in goals among members of his draft class. The Longueuil, Quebec, native made his debut for Canada’s men’s national team at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, taking home a silver medal after tying for the team lead with 14 points (7-7-14) in nine games. Mantha previously led his country in scoring at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship with 11 points (5-6-11) in seven games. Prior to landing a full-time NHL role, Mantha played 132 American Hockey League games with the Grand Rapids Griffins between 2014-17 and totaled 88 points (44-44-88) and 102 penalty minutes. Mantha turned pro in 2014-15 following a prolific major-junior career, capped off by a season in which he racked up 120 points (57-63-120) in 57 games for the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League en route to capturing awards as Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year, QMJHL Most-Valuable Player (Michel Briere Trophy), QMJHL Leading Scorer (Jean Beliveau Trophy) and QMJHL First All-Star Team. He also racked up 38 points (24-14-38) in 24 postseason games to led his team to the 2014 QMJHL championship. In 189 total games with Val-d’Or from 2010-14, Mantha amassed 260 points (129-131-260) and 185 penalty minutes. |
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Update: Here’s the Free Press’s Helene St. James on the deal…
Steve Yzerman has handed out his first long-term contract since becoming general manager of the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
Anthony Mantha, whose prowess as a goal scorer has been marred by injuries, agreed to a four-year deal with an annual average value of $5.7 million. That makes Mantha the second-highest paid player on the team behind Dylan Larkin ($6.1 million AAV).
There was little urgency regarding the restricted free agent, given that the novel coronavirus pandemic has cast uncertainty on the start of 2021 season.
It’s the first time since taking the helm in Detroit that Yzerman has signed a player to a contract longer than two. years, but in this case, it made the most sense.
Here’s MLive’s Ansar Khan…
Mantha, a 6-5, 225-pound winger with scoring ability, is a key part of the team’s rebuild.
He tallied 16 goals and 38 points in 43 games in 2019-20 during an injury-shortened season. He led the team in points per game (0.88).
Mantha, 26, missed eight games with a knee injury and shortly after returning was sidelined for 20 more due to a punctured lung when slew-footed by Toronto’s Jake Muzzin in a confrontation.
He returned on Feb. 11 and had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 14 games before the NHL season shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, forming a potent top line with Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi.
Mantha had scored 25 and 24 goals in the previous two seasons. The club’s top pick in the 2013 draft (20th overall) has appeared in 260 games, collecting 84 goals and 89 assists.
And me…
Mantha’s contract looks a lot like what Tyler Bertuzzi’s next deal might look like, assuming that Bert can keep up his production.— George Malik (@georgemalik) November 3, 2020
Update #2: Here’s the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:
The 6-foot-5, 234-pound right wing continues to have the potential to be among the premier power forwards in the NHL.
Mantha, 26, had 38 points (16 goals) in 43 games last season, which shortened by injuries and the pandemic.
Mantha has been hampered by nagging injuries throughout his four-year career, yet his 82 goals since arriving in Detroit in 2016-17 trails only Dylan Larkin (84) for the team lead during that span.
In one of the few Wings’ highlights last season, Mantha scored four goals in the home opener Oct. 6 against eventual Western Conference-champion Dallas.
Mantha was a 2013 first-round draft pick (20th overall) and ranks seventh in goals among members of his draft class.
Detroit #RedWings cap update:
After signing forward Anthony Mantha to a 4 year deal with an AAV of $5,700,000, we now show the Red Wings with $9,538,611 in projected cap space.
Roster: 22 (13F-7D-2G)
Unsigned RFA’s remaining (1):
F Dmytro Timashovhttps://t.co/67Cuh1HPyi pic.twitter.com/8H0T2ony2Z— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) November 3, 2020
Anthony Mantha re-signs with DET for 4 yrs at $5.7 mil AAV (per @capfriendly).
He’s developed into an excellent scorer who is routinely on the right side of shot quality share and creates a ton of high-quality shots for himself. He’s a 5v4 threat too.https://t.co/fbxaBulVWt pic.twitter.com/3XVbA4cAp3— Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) November 3, 2020
Most Comparable Contracts:
Anthony Mantha #RedWings
4 x $5,700,000 AAV
1. Kevin Labanc (SJS)
2. Tomas Tatar (DET)
3. Jason Zucker (MIN)
4. Teuvo Teräväinen (CAR)
5. Travis Konecny (PHI)https://t.co/geSR43ZQoz pic.twitter.com/KxRxVYpxGe— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) November 3, 2020
Here’s the breakdown for Mantha’s 4-year, $22.8M contract:
Year 1: $4.5M
Year 2: $5.3M
Year 3: $6.5M
Year 4: $6.5M
The deal does not include any no-trade protection in any of the UFA years. https://t.co/INfGmFJ5zI— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) November 3, 2020
The #RedWings signed 26 y/o Anthony Mantha to 4 year $5.7M Cap Hit Deal.
Year 1: $4.2M Salary, $300K Signing Bonus
Yr 2: $5.3M Salary
Yr 3: $6.5M Salary
Yr 4: $6.5M Salary
-Covers 2 UFA years
-16G 38P in 43GP
-Rep’d by Pat Brisson @CAAHockey https://t.co/jk4T1n1bcX— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) November 3, 2020
LET’S GOOOOO‼️
?: https://t.co/bbSgAjuEdU pic.twitter.com/ncBTRcvKwP— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2020
Mantha was Detroit’s most dangerous offensive player when healthy last season, so locking in four prime years at $5.7 M AAV is a nice bit of business for Detroit. Also makes Mantha the first Red Wing with a contract past 2023, which is great for the big winger.— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) November 3, 2020
Update #3: Here’s a bit from The Athletic’s Max Bultman:
How we got here
Max Bultman, Red Wings writer: Mantha was one of the Red Wings’ best players last season. Multiple injuries limited him, but when he was in the lineup, he was Detroit’s most dangerous offensive player, and this four-year contract locks him in for the duration of his prime. This represents the first long-term contract Steve Yzerman has signed since taking over as general manager in April 2019, and it’s fitting that it goes to one of Detroit’s building blocks.
Does this contract represent good value?
Bultman: This looks like great value for the Red Wings. By Dom Luszczyszyn’s GSVA model, Mantha was one of the most impactful wingers in the league last season when healthy, and his best may be yet to come. The fact he hasn’t played 70 games in either of the last two seasons may be the reason for some caution, but it also leaves room for the value on this deal to become even more significant. Mantha was on pace for 30 goals and more than 70 points last season, and if he can post those numbers over a full, healthy campaign, $5.7 million will look like a steal.
Anthony Mantha and @DetroitRedWings agreed to a four-year extension.
On Oct. 6, 2019, @antomantha8 became the second player in franchise history to register four or more goals in the team’s home opener, joining John Sorrell in 1933-34. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/19GhQdklmt— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 3, 2020
Great contract for both sides. Easy on term and funds. Well played from parties.