The Flames signed the veteran power forward in the early stages of Monday’s free-agent frenzy. It’s a one-year contract with a cap-hit of US$3.5 million.
Mantha, a left-shot who is comfortable on either wing, has totalled 142 goals, 154 assists, 266 penalty minutes and 475 hits in 494 career contests at the NHL level. He is a big dude at 6-foot-5 and 234 pounds and turns 30 in September.
The new guy hails from Longueuil, Que., and split last season between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights, collecting 23 goals and 44 points in 74 games.
Flames general manager Craig Conroy repeated several times in the lead-up to Canada Day that he didn’t intend on throwing around a bunch of long-term offers.
On a one-year pact, Mantha could prove to be a savvy investment.
He’ll certainly add some physicality and could be auditioned as a net-front presence on the power-play. If he puts up solid numbers, he could be flipped at the trade deadline for a future asset. He fetched two picks — a second-rounder in 2024 and fourth-rounder in 2026 — when he was swapped to Sin City in March. (That deal also included salary retention.)
Mantha could immediately slide into Andrew Mangiapane’s old slot in the Flames’ lineup, but the brass at the Saddledome might want to see if he can develop some chemistry with Jonathan Huberdeau.