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New report says that the New Jersey Devils got Anthony Mantha because Steve Yzerman got fired

It's been a crazy offseason for the New Jersey Devils, firing GM Tom Fitzgerald and hiring Sunny Mehta. But ironically, the firing of another GM led to their biggest free agent signing.
ByNick Villano|
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Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha (39) reacts to the officials against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha (39) reacts to the officials against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The New Jersey Devils made one of the latest moves of the NHL offseason, signing Anthony Mantha to a two-year deal worth $4.75 million per season. The move was clearly a response to the Utah Mammoth matching the Devils’ offer sheet for Barrett Hayton. With the money they were going to use on the third-line center, they got a 30-goal scorer on the wing. 

Mantha is an interesting player who has a high ceiling. However, injuries put everything into question. If he can stay healthy, he can absolutely score 30 goals each season with the Devils. It was a good signing by new Devils GM Sunny Mehta, who is trying to grow the Devils back into a contender. 

Mantha is a good step forward. Without him, it’s hard to say the Devils got better this offseason. However, adding a finisher of Mantha’s caliber is exactly what the Devils need, especially next to Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. Teams are going all out to stop Hughes as a goal scorer, with Bratt playing the distributor role, but if Mantha gets on their wing, it might be over for everyone else. 

Ironically, the fact that Hayton’s situation took so long to resolve, as per the CBA, meant they almost lost the opportunity to sign Mantha. 

Steve Yzerman almost got Anthony Mantha to sign before he got fired

A new report from M Live reporter Ansar Khan claims that Steve Yzerman was close to a deal with Mantha, who played for the Detroit Red Wings before he was traded to the Washington Capitals in 2021. Then, Yzerman was fired, and the deal fell apart.

Khan reports the deal was likely just one year but around $5 million. While that's slightly more from a yearly salary, it ended up being way less than what Mantha got overall from the Devils.

Luckily for the Devils, the Wings wanted a change in the front office. Mantha didn’t want to go to a team with uncertainty, and the Devils are about as secure in the front office as anyone. There’s no way that Mehta is going anywhere anytime soon. The Devils ownership is going to let him cook. 

Mantha wanted a solid foundation after moving around the last few years. He had a great year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so it makes sense that he wants more than one year. He got it from the Devils, but it appears he only got it because someone got fired.

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