The 28-year-old has been snakebitten and unable to find his game with the Capitals.
The Washington Capitals have a lengthy to-do list to get through this offseason, and one of the outstanding items on the agenda is figuring out what to do with Anthony Mantha. And now, things could be starting to move on that front.
Per The Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli, Mantha's name is starting to come up in trade talks.
"I'm told that Anthony Mantha's name has popped up in a few different conversations," Seravalli reported.
He also added that the team is open to trading Evgeny Kuznetsov, and now, it appears Mantha is also on that list. However, his hefty price tag of $5.7 million and inconsistency does lower his value.
"More to the point, I wouldn't be shocked if, depending on how aggressive they are and really trying to move him, that someone might actually have to pay," Seravalli added.
Mantha came to D.C. at the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline in exchange for Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik and draft picks. It was a blockbuster that was supposed to give Washington a big, top-6 winger who can make an impact on a nightly basis. However, things haven't gone according to plan.
The 28-year-old suffered a major shoulder injury early in the 2021-22 campaign, keeping him out for the majority of the season. Then, despite being fully healthy this season, Mantha wasn't able to find his game or produce. He had just 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 67 appearances, and he also saw his ice time dwindle and spent quite a few games as a healthy scratch.
General manager Brian MacLellan expressed disappointment in Mantha's season, and the forward didn't shy away from taking accountability for his consistency and underwhelming effort.
"Just myself to blame," Mantha said.
Despite the hardships, Mantha believes he still has a lot left to prove and wants to show the Capitals what he can do.
"I want to come back here next year and prove to everyone, including myself, that they came to me for a reason, and that's exactly my mental state of mind for next year," Mantha added.
It will be a difficult decision for Washington, who is looking to get younger and faster while revamping the top-6. If he is shipped out, the return may not be that high, but it would still give both sides the change they perhaps need.
On the flip side, he could get a second chance, and his recent hiring of a mental coach, as well as a new head coach, could provide as much of a boost as a change in scenery.