The New Jersey Devils are adding more firepower to their top six. Last season, nobody on the Devils’ roster scored 30 goals. Well, at least until their latest signing.
The Devils announced they signed Anthony Mantha to a two-year deal worth $4.75 million per season. Mantha was widely regarded as the top free agent left on the board, and the Devils secured his rights by giving him an extra year on the contract.
Anthony Mantha, signed 2x$4.5M by NJ, is a big utility scoring winger who can put the puck in the net very efficiently but has always frustrated due to his relative lack of physicality, streakiness, and tendency to float, especially in the postseason. pic.twitter.com/idvIbWnUvn
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 15, 2026
Mantha played 81 games last season for the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 33 goals and finishing with 64 points. With those numbers, he would have been one of the best offensive players on the Devils last season.Â
He also brings needed size to the equation. Mantha is 6’5 and plays with his body. He’s not very physical, but he can be when he wants. He’s even known to drop the gloves when necessary, fighting Brenden Dillon on the Devils just last season.
This is the first move the Devils have made since the Utah Mammoth matched Barrett Hayton’s offer sheet. Mantha isn’t the same type of player as Hayton, but he has a similar outlook, in that his upside makes this a much better Devils team.Â
Anthony Mantha raises the floor of the New Jersey Devils forward group
Mantha leaves the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he had a career year. Usually, when a player has a career year at 31, there’s a level of risk, but Mantha has toyed with superstar seasons in the past. He’s always dealt with injuries or inconsistencies that have impacted his final numbers.
The one big issue for Mantha is his playoff performance. Almost impossibly, Mantha has zero goals in 20 playoff games, including one point in six games for the Penguins last season. On top of that, he had 20 PIMs in those six games.Â
It’s clear this is a positive addition for the Devils, but it shouldn’t be the final piece. If the Devils can add one more high-profile forward, this would really have them competing with the Hurricanes and Capitals for the top of the division. If not, this at least raises their offensive floor quite a bit.Â
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