The Vegas Golden Knights have added to their forward group ahead of the 2024 NHL trade deadline. On Tuesday, the Golden Knights announced that they acquired winger Anthony Mantha from the Capitals in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
In order to fit Mantha under the salary cap for the Golden Knights, the Capitals are also retaining 50% of his $5.7 million salary. Mantha is in the last season of his current contract, and he is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Mantha, a first-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2013, has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. However, Mantha has had better injury luck this year and has been far more productive as a result. In 56 games, Mantha has tallied 20 goals and 14 assists, which is already his best season since 2019-20.
Mantha should help out a Vegas forward group that has been banged up recently. Mark Stone is currently on LTIR with a ruptured spleen, and William Carrier and Pavel Dorofeyev are also on IR. Mantha should provide some much-needed depth in the desert.
The Golden Knights have to hope this trade can give them a bit of a jump start because they have been slumping recently. Vegas has won just two of its last 10 games with a minus-11 goal differential in that time.
The Washington Capitals made a significant move at the NHL trade deadline, acquiring forward Anthony Mantha from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a pair of draft picks. The Capitals hope that Mantha will provide a boost to their offense as they make a push for the playoffs.
Mantha, 26, was originally drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He has spent his entire career with the Red Wings before being traded to the Golden Knights earlier this season. In 42 games this season, Mantha has recorded 11 goals and 10 assists.
The Capitals gave up a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft to acquire Mantha. This is a significant price to pay, but the Capitals believe that Mantha’s scoring ability and size (he stands at 6’5″) will make him a valuable addition to their lineup.
Mantha is expected to slot into the Capitals’ top-six forward group and could provide a much-needed scoring punch alongside the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie. The Capitals currently sit in second place in the East Division and are looking to make a deep playoff run.
The Golden Knights, on the other hand, are looking to bolster their roster for a playoff push of their own. By acquiring two high draft picks, they are positioning themselves for future success while also adding some depth to their lineup for the remainder of this season.
Overall, this trade has the potential to benefit both teams in different ways. The Capitals are hoping that Mantha can help them make a deep playoff run this season, while the Golden Knights are looking to build for the future with the draft picks they acquired in the deal. Only time will tell how this trade ultimately plays out for both teams.
