The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. In return, Vegas sends a 2024 second-round draft pick and a 2026 fourth-round selection to Washington.
Mantha is in the final season of a four-year, $22.8 million contract. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. The Capitals are retaining 50 percent of Mantha’s salary cap hit as part of the swap.
The 6-foot-5 winger had 20 goals and 44 assists over 56 games with Washington this season. This was the second time that Mantha has been traded in his nine-year career. The Capitals originally acquired him in an April 2021 deal with the Detroit Red Wings.
Mantha brings solid production to the Golden Knights
Over eight-plus NHL seasons, Mantha has scored 139 goals with 147 assists overall in 476 games. The 29-year-old Quebec native had been rumored to be traded for some time. He recently told RMNB that he was still taking trade talk in stride, saying:
“Obviously, you just never know, but I try to go day by day and do my best, play for this team — that’s who I’m playing for right now — and I’m focused on winning games here, being a good teammate and that’s all I can do.”
Golden Knights offer playoff shot for Mantha
While the Capitals’ playoff hopes are flagging by the day, the trade offers Mantha a shot at a playoff run. Vegas, the defending Stanley Cup champions, is currently sitting third in the NHL‘s Pacific division with 73 points.
The Golden Knights have the Los Angeles Kings hot on their tail with 72 points. The Kings and Nashville Predators, however, are tied on points and hold down the top two Western Conference Wild Card spots. Vegas is also currently six points up on the St. Louis Blues. Thus, St. Louis would have to go on a bit of a hot streak before the Golden Knights fall out of the playoff picture.
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Tom Carothers is a sportswriter with more than 20 years of experience covering sports at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Still longing for the return of his Minnesota North Stars, he undoubtedly has a high pain tolerance as a big fan of the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Browns, and Tottenham Hotspur. You can follow him on X at @tomcarothers.