Can you believe it? Anthony Mantha, the dude everyone thought would be signed weeks ago, is still sitting right at the top of pretty much every single "best available free agent" list out there. For days now, he's been the big name without a deal, and it's making everyone wonder what's going on. That contract? It's gotta be coming, but man, it's taking its sweet time.
The Playoff Performance That's Haunting His Wallet
So, why is this happening? Why is one of the league's top free agents still waiting for a team to call? The Athletic's Josh Yohe dropped a theory that makes a ton of sense. He thinks Mantha is absolutely going to get paid this summer, and deservedly so after a great year. But Yohe "wonder[s] if his playoff showing , no goals, bad penalties, teammates literally suggesting that certain forwards weren’t good in front of Philly’s net , is costing him a bit." Ouch. Talk about a rough exit! It was definitely not the ideal way to wrap up his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and you gotta think that kind of performance sticks in GMs' minds. Look, Alex Tuch went through a similar final phase with Buffalo, and he ended up snagging a killer deal in a sign-and-trade to the Washington Capitals. Mantha isn't exactly on Tuch's level, let's be real. But that Tuch situation has to give Mantha some hope that there's still a solid contract waiting for him out there. It just might not be the mega-deal everyone thought.The "Prove-It" Year and the Shrinking Price Tag
Remember earlier this offseason, when The Athletic's Chris Johnston put out a projection for Mantha? He was talking about a four-year contract, worth roughly $24 million in total. A sweet score, right? Well, according to Johnston, things aren't "as obvious" now. It's a huge shift from just a few weeks ago! Mantha literally signed a "prove-it" contract with the Penguins last summer, after coming back from a torn ACL in his right knee. And dude, he absolutely proved it! He had a fantastic year, striking for a career-best 33 goals and 64 points. Everyone knew he was a dangerous scorer with an excellent shot, but he often struggled to put it all together. This year, he did it in a big way, completely reestablishing himself as an offensively gifted winger. The only sour note, as Johnston pointed out, was that rough playoff performance, with just one assist in six games. That's a tiny blip on an otherwise incredible season, but apparently, it's enough to make that $24 million look shaky. So what's next for Mantha? He's not expected to go back to Pittsburgh, even though the Penguins still have some cash to throw around. It just feels like a deal should come together for him sooner rather than later. For now, though, Anthony Mantha is stuck playing the waiting game. How long can a top-tier free agent really be forced to be this patient? We're all watching to see where he lands!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.