Devils lock in winger Anthony Mantha with 2-year, $9.5 million deal

The New Jersey Devils have signed winger Anthony Mantha to a two-year, $9.5 million contract, the team announced. The agreement, reached as the Devils continue shaping their roster for the next season, gives New Jersey another established forward who can be used in a variety of bottom-six and top-six situations depending on matchups and health.

Mantha, who is scheduled to turn 32 in September, is still working through the long aftermath of a serious right-knee injury. According to the announcement coverage, he is nearly two years removed from tearing the ACL in that knee and beginning an extended rehab process, a recovery arc that remains central to how quickly he can return to his best pace and workload.

For the Devils, the timing matters as much as the price. New Jersey’s offseason has already included major roster churn, highlighted by the earlier trade that sent goaltender Jacob Markstrom to Florida for Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. In that context, the Mantha signing reads as part of a broader effort to add NHL experience and depth at forward while the team balances new pieces with veterans.

Mantha’s contract also suggests the Devils believe they can manage the risk. While the right knee is the obvious storyline, the team is committing dollars and years now rather than waiting for a longer proving stretch. That decision typically reflects a coaching staff’s internal view of readiness, practice participation, and the availability of a player who can contribute even if he is eased back into top roles.

From a roster construction standpoint, Devils brass can view Mantha as a resource for physical play, net-front presence, and secondary offense, even if his effectiveness is tied to how his skating and stability return post-rehab. In an NHL season, those traits can matter in tight games, especially when coaches are matching lines against opponents’ stronger lines and want more size or leverage in the cycle game.

The next checkpoint for fans and evaluators is straightforward: how Mantha looks once the team’s offseason program turns into full on-ice work. The Devils will likely measure his conditioning, stride mechanics, and ability to handle longer shifts, particularly because ACL recoveries can produce the most telling signs after months of repeated workload. Mantha’s readiness will shape how much New Jersey leans on him early and what combinations his coaches put him in.