Anthony Mantha had options this summer. He could have stayed in Pittsburgh, maybe tried his luck somewhere else. But the New Jersey Devils got him, and it wasn’t because of the money or the market size.
It was a Saturday morning phone call with Devils general manager Sunny Mehta that sealed it.
Mantha sat down with reporters Friday and explained how Mehta took time out of his weekend to talk. Not a quick, scripted recruiting pitch either. They talked for 35 minutes, just going back and forth about what the Devils are building, where Mantha fits in the lineup, and what’s happening around the league.
“Every GM doesn’t do that,” Mantha said. “He’s probably taking time on a Saturday morning to call, and it went a long way.”
And here’s the part that really sold him. Mehta told Mantha he didn’t care about his raw point totals from last season. He said he looked at advanced stats instead. That mattered to Mantha, because it told him the Devils saw something deeper in his game.
What Mantha Brings to New Jersey
Mantha is 31 years old and has played for five teams in his career, starting with the Red Wings, then Washington, Vegas, Calgary, and most recently the Penguins. Last season in Pittsburgh he put up 64 points in 81 games. The Penguins made the playoffs but got knocked out by the Flyers.
His career numbers? 367 points over 10 seasons. Solid. Not flashy. But the Devils are betting on the stuff that doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet.
Mehta told Mantha that some people in the organization were talking about his stats from last year. Mehta said he didn’t even know how many goals Mantha scored. He focused on the advanced numbers instead. “That’s what was most impressive to me,” Mantha recalled Mehta saying, “and that’s why I want you on my team.”
The Two-Year Deal That Means Something
Mantha signed a two-year contract with the Devils. That might not sound like a huge deal for a veteran player, but for him it was a relief.
“With three young kids, I kind of wanted to stay somewhere for more than one year,” Mantha said. “Getting that two-year deal was a big relief and I’m just excited to be here now that it’s all done and set.”
The stability matters for a guy who has bounced around. He’s played for Detroit, Washington, Vegas, Calgary, and Pittsburgh. Now he gets to settle in New Jersey, at least for a couple seasons.
The Devils missed the playoffs last season, which is why they’re making moves like this. Mantha is part of the plan to get back there in 2027. Fans in Newark are hoping he’s the kind of addition that pushes them over the edge.
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