Anthony Mantha Bio
Anthony Mantha is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. Drafted 20th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, he has spent more than a decade in professional hockey after developing into one of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s most productive scorers. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and listed at 109 kilograms, Mantha combines size with a heavy shot, a profile that has made him a valuable top-six winger throughout his career.
After stops with the Detroit Red Wings, the Washington Capitals, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Calgary Flames, Mantha signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in July 2025, continuing his path as an experienced power forward in the league.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Mantha was born on September 16, 1994, in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in a hockey family on the south shore of Montreal, where the sport is woven into daily life from a young age. As a youth, he played in the 2007 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Collège-Français Rive-Sud minor ice hockey team, an early indicator of the talent that would later attract NHL scouts.
Mantha’s grandfather, Andre Pronovost, is a four-time Stanley Cup winner, giving the young forward a direct connection to hockey’s most prestigious trophy. That family lineage helped shape his understanding of the game’s standards and expectations before he ever reached the junior ranks.
Path to Hockey
Mantha was drafted 76th overall in the 2010 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Val-d’Or Foreurs. He made his QMJHL debut in December 2010, appearing in two games with Val-d’Or while spending most of his first season with the Collège Charles-Lemoyne Riverains in Quebec’s midget AAA league. During the 2011–12 season, his first full year in the QMJHL, he played 63 games and produced 22 goals and 29 assists, establishing himself as a future offensive leader.
In 2012–13, Mantha emerged as one of the league’s premier scorers, leading the QMJHL with 50 goals and adding 39 assists in 67 games. He was invited to the 2013 CHL Top Prospects Game and named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team. The following season, he led the entire QMJHL in scoring with 57 goals and 63 assists, earning the Jean Béliveau Trophy as the top scorer, the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player, and the CHL Player of the Year award. He capped that campaign by leading Val-d’Or to the President’s Cup, scoring the game-winning goal with 52 seconds remaining in Game 7 against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
On the international stage, Mantha represented Canada at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championship, winning a bronze medal, and was the leading scorer for Canada at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships with five goals and six assists in seven games, earning a spot on the 2014 WJC All-Star Team.
Anthony Mantha Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
On October 12, 2013, the Detroit Red Wings signed Mantha to a three-year entry-level contract. He began the 2014–15 season on injured reserve after fracturing his right tibia at the Traverse City Prospect Tournament in September 2014. He made his professional debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins on November 14, 2014, against the Texas Stars, becoming the second-highest Detroit draft pick to play for the Griffins at the time, behind Jakub Kindl.
On February 17, 2016, Mantha recorded his first career hat-trick in an AHL game against the Milwaukee Admirals. He was recalled by the Red Wings on March 14, 2016, and made his NHL debut the following day against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored his first NHL goal on March 24, 2016, against Ben Scrivens of the Montreal Canadiens, finishing his first NHL stint with two goals and one assist in 10 games.
Detroit Red Wings Breakthrough (2016–2021)
Mantha became a full-time NHL player with the Red Wings beginning in the 2016–17 season. On October 5, 2017, he scored the first goal in the history of Little Caesars Arena, an assist from captain Henrik Zetterberg. He continued to develop into a top-six winger, recording his first career NHL hat-trick on March 31, 2019, in a game against the Boston Bruins.
On October 6, 2019, Mantha scored four goals in Detroit’s home opener against the Dallas Stars, including a natural hat-trick, becoming the first Red Wings player since John Sorrell in 1933 to score four or more goals in a home opener. The performance earned him NHL Second Star of the Week honors. On November 3, 2020, the Red Wings signed him to a four-year, $22.8 million contract, signaling his arrival as an established scorer in the league.
Washington Capitals Era (2021–2024)
On April 12, 2021, Mantha was traded to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Jakub Vrána, Richard Pánik, a first-round pick in 2021 and a second-round pick in 2022. He made an immediate impact, becoming the first Capital in franchise history to score a goal in each of his first four games with the club. On December 13, 2022, he assisted on Alexander Ovechkin’s 800th career goal, helping Ovechkin become only the third player in NHL history to reach that milestone.
Vegas Golden Knights and Calgary Flames Era (2024–2025)
On March 5, 2024, Mantha was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2024 second-round and 2026 fourth-round pick. In June 2024, he confirmed he would not re-sign with the Golden Knights, and on July 1, 2024, he signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Calgary Flames. He opened the season with a Gordie Howe hat trick in a 6–5 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks on October 9, 2024, but his season ended after he tore his ACL on November 5, 2024, following a check by Montreal’s Emil Heineman, requiring surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2025–Present)
On July 2, 2025, Mantha signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with up to $2 million in additional potential bonuses. The deal gives him an opportunity to re-establish himself as a top-six winger following his injury-shortened season in Calgary. With his combination of size, scoring touch and playoff experience, Mantha is expected to provide a veteran presence to the Penguins’ forward group as the 2025–26 season unfolds.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mantha is best known for his heavy wrist shot, his reach advantage at 6 feet 5 inches, and his ability to play along the boards in the cycle game. He has consistently produced offense in tight spaces, particularly on the power play, while also being trusted in physical matchups against opposing top lines.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mantha’s signature moments include scoring the first-ever goal at Little Caesars Arena, his four-goal performance against Dallas in 2019, and his Presidents’ Cup-winning goal for Val-d’Or in 2014. He also helped Canada reach the final of the 2019 IIHF World Championship, finishing tied for the tournament scoring lead with 14 points in nine games and earning a silver medal.
Anthony Mantha Career Wins
Mantha’s verified career highlights include a Presidents’ Cup championship with the Val-d’Or Foreurs in 2013–14, a CHL Player of the Year award, a Michel Brière Trophy as QMJHL MVP, and a Jean Béliveau Trophy as the QMJHL’s top scorer. Internationally, he won a bronze medal at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championship and a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
NHL and Professional Highlights
At the NHL level, Mantha has produced multiple 20-goal seasons with the Red Wings and recorded hat-tricks in both the AHL and NHL. His four-goal game against Dallas in 2019 stands as one of the most memorable single-game performances in recent Detroit history.
Other Wins and Performances
In junior hockey, Mantha holds or shares several individual Val-d’Or Foreurs records, and he remains one of the most decorated scorers in recent QMJHL history following his 57-goal, 120-point campaign in 2013–14.
Anthony Mantha Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mantha’s family is deeply rooted in hockey history. His grandfather, Andre Pronovost, won four Stanley Cups during his NHL career, providing a direct link to the highest level of the sport.
Personal Life
Mantha’s older sister, Elizabeth Mantha, became one of the first 10 female officials in American Hockey League history in October 2021, when she refereed a game between the Laval Rocket and the Rochester Americans in Laval, Quebec. Her achievement added another notable chapter to the Mantha family’s hockey story.
2025 Season Performance
Mantha entered the 2025 calendar year still under contract with the Calgary Flames following his ACL surgery in November 2024, which ended his 2024–25 season. After completing rehabilitation, he became an unrestricted free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 2, 2025.
Heading into the 2025–26 NHL season, Mantha is expected to compete for a top-six forward role with the Penguins, providing size, scoring touch and veteran leadership to a roster in transition. His contract includes performance bonuses that could push his total compensation to $4.5 million, giving him additional motivation to return to his previous 20-goal form.
With several years of playoff experience and a fully recovered knee, Mantha’s outlook for 2025 is one of measured optimism as he looks to re-establish himself as a reliable scorer in a new organization.