Anthony Mantha has Martin St-Louis tied to a Montreal idea that already looks hard to finish.
Marc-Olivier Beaudoin reported that the Canadiens have shown interest in Mantha, but only on a very short-term basis. He also said Mantha is looking for a medium- or long-term contract, which leaves the fit looking thin right away.
That gap is the whole story. Montreal can like the player without liking the commitment, and this sounds exactly like that kind of file.
It also makes hockey sense from the Canadiens' side. Mantha is 31, shoots right, stands 6-foot-5, and still brings size that can help a top 9 when he is moving well.
He is not coming off a dead season either. NHL.com lists Mantha at 33 goals and 31 assists for 64 points in 81 games in 2025-26 with Pittsburgh.
That is why the name gets attention in Montreal. Players with that frame and that scoring line do not usually sit around without calls.
But Kent Hughes does not look like a front-office boss eager to hand out term just because a local name is available. The Canadiens extended both Hughes and Jeff Gorton in October 2025, which backed the current plan and gave the front office room to stay patient.
" I'm told that the #CH has shown interest in Anthony Mantha's services.
That said, we're talking about a willingness to team up on a (very) short-term basis, while Mantha would be looking for a medium/long-term contract.
The chances of Mantha signing in Montreal are therefore quite slim, but knowing that things can change quickly in hockey, it remains a (slight) possibility.
To be continued! "
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The Canadiens are emerging as a serious contender for Anthony Mantha
That is what makes this different from a real chase. If Montreal wanted to go medium term, this probably gets louder fast. Instead, the report points to a club that is interested only if the structure bends its way.
St-Louis can understand that. The Canadiens are still trying to build a lineup that stays flexible, and tying up term in a 31-year-old winger is a different bet than adding a short-term scorer.
Mantha's camp has its own case. A player coming off 64 points is going to look for more than a one-year prove-it deal, especially with the cap rising and teams spending more freely this summer.
So the chances stay slim for now, exactly the way Beaudoin framed it. Montreal is watching, Mantha is listening, but both sides want different versions of the same deal.
That does not shut the door. Hockey files can flip quickly when the market tightens, and the Canadiens clearly see enough in Mantha to keep at least a small line open.
Still, the clean read is this: Montreal's interest is real, but only on its terms. Unless Anthony Mantha lowers the ask or the market cools, this looks more like a check-in than a signing about to land.
Should the Canadiens sign Anthony Mantha if the deal stays short-term?
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