The Montreal Canadiens still have a need for their Top 6, and at this point in free agency, there are not many options that are clear upgrades over what they currently have. One player who would be is Anthony Mantha, and the Canadiens reportedly are interested, but they should proceed with caution.
According to Marc-Olivier Beaudoin, the Canadiens had shown interest in Mantha, but as he noted, it would be on a short-term deal. That is smart by general manager Kent Hughes, and at this point, it is the only way a signing like that would make sense.
There is no question that Mantha would help this offense after scoring 33 goals last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is the best forward available; however, the Canadiens can't be short-sighted with their forwards.
The last thing Kent Hughes would want to do is sign Mantha to a long-term deal that would create an issue down the road if a trade for a top forward were to present itself.
Anthony Mantha should consider a short-term deal with the Montreal Canadiens at this point
There is no question that Mantha was hoping to get a big contract this summer after he had a bounce-back season. One of the reasons that Mantha wanted a long-term deal is that he will be 32 years old going into this season, and it will be tough to lock in a bigger deal as he gets older.
At this point, Mantha might want to focus on shorter deals with higher AAV, and if he continues to play at a high level, he will be highly sought after next offseason. The Canadiens could offer a one-year deal with an AAV over $5 million with the cap space they have and give Mantha a chance to play in a better offense than he did in Pittsburgh.
If he has another season with 30+ goals, which is certainly possible, then he could see another one or two-year deal with a slightly higher AAV in the right situation. For the Canadiens, they improve the offense this season, but keep the door open for potential trades this season or going after a top free agent next season.
It seems to be a perfect win-win for both sides and would be a great move for the Montreal Canadiens if they can get him on a short-term contract.
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