The Washington Capitals announced that they have acquired forward Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, and forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik just after the 3 PM NHL Trade Deadline on Monday.
The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings. Mantha, 26, recorded 21 points (11g, 10a) in 42 games with the Red Wings this season. The 6’5”, 234-pound forward led Detroit with 11 goals and ranked second with 21 points. pic.twitter.com/p6Gzhj4V4j
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 12, 2021
Mantha, 26, has recorded a team-leading 11 goals, 21 points, and a -14 rating in 42 games this season and 95 goals, 194 points, and a -26 rating in 302 career NHL games, all with the Red Wings. The team selected him 20th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. This season at five-on-five, Mantha has a 49.16% Corsi-for percentage, a 47.99% expected goals-for percentage, and a 48.63% scoring chances-for percentage this season.
The best season of his NHL career came in 2018-19 when he recorded 25 goals, 48 points, and a -8 rating in 67 games.
After this season, Mantha has three seasons left on a contract that carries a $5.7 million cap hit. He will likely play in the Capitals’ top-six forward group.
Anthony Mantha, acquired by WSH, is an excellent playdriver at both ends of the ice and a strong scorer. On a very good value contract as well. #AllCaps pic.twitter.com/rs5EopJm8I
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) April 12, 2021
Vrana, 25, has recorded 11 goals, 25 points, and a +9 rating in 39 games this season and has been a healthy scratch three times. He can become a restricted free agent on July 27.
In 284 career games with the Capitals, Vrana has recorded 76 goals, 157 points, and a +36 rating. He set career-highs in goals (25) and points (52) in 69 games last season. He has no points and a combined -8 rating in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games over the past two seasons when the Capitals were eliminated in the first round both times after recording three goals and eight points in 23 games during the 2018 tournament.
The Capitals added $675,000 in salary cap space by adding Mantha, who has never played a Stanley Cup Playoff game in his career.
It’s been fun watching you grow Liney! @DetroitRedWings your getting a good kid and a great player. Good luck @VranaJakub. I’ll miss you buddy https://t.co/J2M7XuxVJh
— TJ Oshie (@TJOshie77) April 12, 2021
The move arguably improves a Capitals’ offense that averages 3.43 goals-per-game this season (second in the NHL behind the Colorado Avalanche) and a power play that ranks fourth with a 25.5% efficiency. Mantha averaged 2:31 worth of power-play ice time with the Red Wings, fifth on the team.
Panik, who has two years left on a contract that pays him $2.75 million annually, cleared waivers last week. He has three goals, nine points, and a -9 rating in 36 games this season.
Richard Panik, acquired by DET, is a perfectly good bottom six winger with two years left on a $2.8M contract. Not bad value but not the kind of deal most teams want in a flat-cap environment. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/vDv7tQxgK7
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) April 12, 2021
The Capitals, who are tied for first in the East Division with the New York Islanders as both teams have a 27-11-4 record, host the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday (7 PM ET, NBCSN nationally, NBC Sports Washington locally) in what could be Mantha’s debut.
By Harrison Brown