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Most years, the leading scorer to actually make it to the open market in a UFA class is typically highly coveted.
Generally, within hours of the market opening up, that player has secured a long-term contract and a nice raise on whatever he was making the season before.
That is not the case this year, however.
Were a week and a half into free agency and this years top scorer remains unsigned.
That would be winger Anthony Mantha, whose stock has bounced up and down frequently over the past few seasons.
Early in his career, the former Detroit first-round pick looked like a potential power forward in the making.
He put up a pair of 48-point seasons within his first three NHL campaigns and it looked like he was well on his way to being an impactful top-six piece for a long time.
However, things went sideways for quite a while after that.
Injuries became a near-annual issue while his production went in the wrong direction.
It took five years for him to get back to the 40-point mark but he did so in 2023-24, splitting time between Washington and Vegas.
The timing seemed fitting, too, as Mantha was slated to hit the open market that summer.
But a long-term contract didnt materialize.
After being scratched in four first-round playoff games, Mantha wound up settling for a one-year, $3.5MM pact with Calgary in 2024 with the hopes that a bigger role with a team starting to rebuild would allow him to rebuild some value.
While he started off well with seven points in 13 games, the injury bug bit again as he tore his ACL in November, ending his season prematurely.
That made Mantha eligible for a one-year, bonus-laden contract last summer, a route he wisely took.
He signed with Pittsburgh for a $2.5MM guarantee plus $2MM in games played bonuses, which were all met.
He had a career year offensively, surpassing 30 goals, 30 assists, and 60 points for the first time.
With a market rather bereft of impactful top-six players, this was thought to be the springboard to make him a very highly coveted free agent.
But that hasnt happened, at least on the surface.
There hasnt been much in the way of speculation involving the 31-year-old.
Right now, it looks like his camp is hoping to land him a longer-term pact with a nice raise, one that the type of season he just had would normally yield.
For now, at least, it appears teams arent willing to bite, knowing his overall inconsistency and injury history.
2025-26: 81 GP, 33 G, 31 A, 64 PTS, +10, 43 PIMS, 152 shots, 15:11 ATOI, 49.5 CF% Career: 588 GP, 179 G, 188 A, 367 PTS, -3, 320 PIMS, 1,295 shots, 16:05 ATOI, 52.4 CF% Some of the potential fits for Mantha will be determined by the term of the contract that he ultimately decides to accept.
If he continues to push for a longer-term agreement, his options will probably be somewhat limited.
However, if he is willing to do another short-term pact (even a one-year agreement with a higher cap hit), more opportunities should present themselves.
In the East, the Flyers have ample cap flexibility now with Leo Carlssons offer sheet being matched.
Even after they re-sign their current restricted free agents, they have enough to afford Mantha on a short-term or long-term pact although he wouldnt really solve their need down the middle.
The Blue Jackets have lost some firepower this summer and given their challenges at times attracting talent, they may not be as worried about a longer-term agreement.
The Red Wings could definitely afford him if they want a reunion with their former draft pick.
Among teams that might become more interested on a short-term pact, Montreal comes to mind.
While they need a second-line center, they also need a second-line winger but GM Kent Hughes has noted he doesnt want to necessarily block some of his prospects long-term.
The Canadiens have enough cap space to afford a one-year deal but may not be inclined to go much longer.
Depending on what happens with some of their other free agent pursuits, the Sabres could be in that boat as well.
Devils GM Sunny Mehta doesnt seem like the type to commit a long-term contract to Mantha given his history but on a short-term pact, they could be more willing to take a flyer as well.
Out West, the Blackhawks havent done much this summer to add firepower.
While Connor Bedard needs a pricey contract, they still have the long-term or short-term flexibility to try to bring Mantha in.
The Kraken are believed to be looking to get back to the playoffs and were willing to take a big swing to add a top talent.
While those fell through, Mantha could be a serviceable, though nowhere near as impactful, option.
The Jets still need to sign Cole Perfetti but they need more top-six help as well and, like Columbus, may not be as deterred by a longer-term deal given their challenges in attracting players as well.
On the shorter-term side, the Canucks could make some sense along the lines of Manthas strategy when he signed in Calgary.
Play a big role, try to show the uptick in points wasnt a fluke, and hope to be moved to a contender at the trade deadline.
The Oilers could make sense with a similar idea, play him with one of their top centers and try to get a short-term boost.
But with Connor McDavid needing a new deal soon, Mantha isnt the type of player theyd probably want to sign long-term, only on a short-term pact.
Mantha was fourth on our Top 50 UFA list, with our projection being a four-year, $24MM contract.
Its still possible that he holds on long enough to get something in that range but it also could work against him if some of the teams open to signing him longer-term pivot elsewhere.
Accordingly, its also quite possible that he flips to a one-year (or shorter-term strategy), something that should open up his list of suitors considerably and perhaps still land him in the $5MM to $6MM range.
That probably isnt his preferred option but at this point, it might be his best one.
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