Canadiens’ Reported Interest in Anthony Mantha Stalls Over Contract Length

A term disagreement is keeping the 31-year-old free agent unsigned and signals teams will likely offer short deals because of his age and ACL history.

Overview

This weekend, BPM Sports contributor Marc-Olivier Beaudoin told multiple outlets that the Montreal Canadiens have shown interest in Anthony Mantha but only on a short-term contract.
Mantha is a 31-year-old unrestricted free agent who delivered a career-best 33 goals and 31 assists for 64 points in 81 games during the 2025–26 season.
Sources report Mantha is seeking a medium- to long-term deal while Montreal prefers a short-term pact, creating a term mismatch that makes a signing in Montreal unlikely for now.
Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas indicated in May that Mantha is unlikely to return to the Penguins, and other teams such as Boston and Philadelphia have been mentioned as potential fits.
Because Mantha missed most of 2024–25 with a torn ACL, teams are expected to favor short-term offers to limit risk, which could leave him unsigned into the start of the season and affect Montreal’s roster planning.