Anthony Mantha remains unsigned, and insider chatter keeps circling back to the Edmonton Oilers as a landing spot.
David Pagnotta said this week that some teams could see Mantha on a short two-year deal, and he believes the Oilers might be intrigued.
Mantha just delivered his best NHL season, scoring 33 goals and 64 points in 81 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins on a $2,500,000 prove-it deal.
He finished a plus-10, his best rating in years, after a torn ACL limited him to just 13 games with the Calgary Flames the season before.
Edmonton finished 41-30-11 for 93 points this season under Mike Babcock, sitting 14th overall with real firepower already up front.
Leon Draisaitl already carries a $14,000,000 cap hit up front, so a cheap bridge deal fits a roster that can't afford another big number.
A two-year bridge is a low-risk swing for a team that already knows exactly what it's chasing.
Pagnotta named the Oilers directly when he floated the idea on Inside Sports, and the report is already spreading through rumor circles.
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Inside the prove-it deal that rebuilt Mantha's value
Nobody expected 64 points out of a one-year, $2,500,000 contract, least of all Mantha himself after the ACL tear wiped out his Calgary season.
That kind of bounce-back changes the free agent market fast, and it's why a two-year offer suddenly looks reasonable instead of risky.
Consistency has followed Mantha his entire career, the fair knock scouts have made since his Detroit days.
He's already worn five different jerseys since 2021, bouncing from Washington to Vegas to Calgary before landing in Pittsburgh.
But size, a big shot, and a power play touch like his don't sit on the market long once a contender starts circling.
Nothing is signed. Edmonton hasn't confirmed a thing, and Mantha could just as easily land somewhere else entirely.
Would you want the Oilers to sign Anthony Mantha to a two-year deal?
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