Anthony Mantha made his career year count.
The 31-year-old forward signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Devils, the team announced on Wednesday.
The forward will make $5.4 million next season and $4.1 million in 2027-28 with an average annual value of $4.75 million.
Mantha scored a career-high 33 goals for the Penguins last season, but ended his year in disappointment recording just one assist in six games in a first-round loss to the Flyers in the NHL Playoffs.
The Penguins wanted to bring the forward back after his one-year, $2.5 million contract ran out, but on a short-term deal.
Mantha said after the season that he wanted at least a three-year deal, but ended up settling for two with New Jersey for some added pay.
The grandson of four-time Stanley Cup winner Andre Pronovost stands at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds and boasts a very nice pair of hands.
“He’s a great player,” Mantha’s ex-linemate Evgeni Malkin told the Penguins team website. “He’s fast and has a long stick. He’s physical, he can score, he can do everything.”
His career, however, hasn’t matched the expectations when he was taken No. 20 overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Red Wings.
A series of injuries and inconsistent seasons saw him hop between the Capitals, Golden Knights and Flames before landing in Pittsburgh last season.
Mantha has 179 career goals, 188 assists and a -3 plus-minus in 588 games played over his 13-year NHL career so far.
Not only did the forward record his most goals (33) and points (64) last season, but he also hit the 80-game threshold for just the second time in his career.
Mantha is just one piece of the Devils’ offseason makeover after a disappointing season that saw them falls short of the playoffs.
The team traded goalie Jacob Markstrom to the Panthers for forwards Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
