VGK Acquire Anthony Mantha

VGK Acquire Anthony Mantha

The VGK are hanging on by a thread. Mark Stone is hurt again, which means it’s time to dig into that LTIR money. Vegas has identified its target and has struck a deal with Washington for Anthony Mantha. With Stone on the mend, Mantha takes his spot in the lineup as a right winger.

The Vegas Golden Knights team account released the full details of the trade. Mantha will head to Vegas at 50% retention. Washington will acquire a 2024 second round pick and a 2026 fourth round pick.

Mantha, 29, will carry an AAV of $2.85 million. When you consider that, the acquisition feels palatable. However, he’s an impending free agent after the year so this could be a pure rental. The Knights have $4,426,683 million remaining in LTIR money. This doesn’t necessarily take them out of the Jake Guentzel race, whom they’re reportedly very interested in.

Mantha is having a nice bounceback season finishing at a high rate and has always played really respectable defense. A player with size that should fit into Bruce Cassidy’s defensive minded system. Through 56 games, Mantha has 34 points (20 of those points are goals) in roughly 14 minutes of ice time per night. Time will tell if this deal works out for them.

This isn’t the first time that Mantha has been moved at the NHL Trade Deadline. Three years ago, Mantha was traded to the Capitals via the Red Wings in a deal involving Jakub Vrana.

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