When the Calgary Flames hit the free agent market in the summer of 2024, arguably the only “big” move they made was signing winger Anthony Mantha. On paper, the signing made a lot of sense.

Best-case scenario? He would provide scoring and maybe find a long-term fit. Worst-case scenario? He could be an asset that could be sold at the trade deadline for a draft choice.

Well, turns out neither of those outcomes unfolded due to some unfortunate injury luck.

Mantha’s 2024-25 expectations

Mantha spent 2023-24 on an expiring contract, and split the season between Washington and Vegas. He posted 23 goals and 21 assists for 44 points in 74 games between the two teams. It was the most goals he had scored since 2018-19.

Arriving in Calgary, the thought was that perhaps he could take advantage of a muddy winger depth chart to carve out a role and perhaps find chemistry with his old pal, Jonathan Huberdeau. And, like with the addition of Tyson Barrie, adding Mantha could potentially provide another offensive option for a Flames power play group that had been fairly blah in prior seasons.

If it worked, it would buy the Flames a bit of time to allow youngsters like Matt Coronato and Adam Klapka to (over-)ripen in the AHL. And then either Mantha could be locked in as a long-term asset… or sold off for a draft choice prior to the trade deadline.

How Mantha did in 2024-25

Mantha was uneven, but he had some flashes of brilliance. Offensively, he was pretty good. Playing primarily with Huberdeau and a series of centres – usually one of Martin Pospisil, Yegor Sharangovich or Justin Kirkland – he had four goals and three assists for seven points over 13 games.

Defensively, Mantha wasn’t all that great – if we’re being honest, he wasn’t playing with great two-way linemates so he didn’t get a ton of help – and he bounced around the lineup a little bit after the first 10 games as head coach Ryan Huska seemed to look for a good two-way fit for him.

Mantha was injured on a hit behind the net in Montreal a month into the season and required season-ending ACL surgery. Just as he seemed to be in a decent rhythm, his season was over.

Next season’s expectations

So here’s the thing with Mantha: he did his job fairly well, he had bad luck, and I don’t think there’s a spot with the Flames remaining for him. Matt Coronato took advantage of the opportunity afforded to him by Mantha’s absence and is firmly established as an NHL regular now. Adam Klapka is probably ready for NHL duty. There are other Wranglers forwards that could probably use NHL looks, too.

And so through no fault of his own, there’s really no more room at the inn for Mantha. Here’s hoping he’s fully recovered from his surgery by the fall and can find an NHL gig somewhere, because there’s a ton to like about him and his game. There’s just no fit for him with the Flames anymore, it seems.