We’ve got another edition of NHL rumours for you. The Washington Capitals missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season. There will likely be some changes as the Capitals try to get Alex Ovechkin another deep post-season run. A few of the names rumoured to be moving on are surprising. However, an Anthony Mantha buyout may not be as surprising. This edition of NHL rumours takes a look at that scenario.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Anthony Mantha Buyout Possible
Rumour: The Athletic’s Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal took a look at possible buyout candidates for when the window opens. Washington’s 28-year-old forward was listed for a possible buyout. There was plenty of promise in the former 25-goal scorer. However, things haven’t worked out for him or major trade piece Jakub Vrana.
Buyout watch: @harmandayal2 and I dive into the (potential) logic of 13 players to watch when the buyout window opens sometime between June 15th and June 21st: https://t.co/n316LYnA6Q via @TheAthleticNHL
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) June 7, 2023
Mantha is in the last year of his contract that sees him make $5.7 million. Buying out Mantha’s contract would save Washington $4.3 million next season. The Longueuil, Quebec native would cost the Capitals nearly $2.2 million for the 2024-25 season. The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir said that Washington general manager Brian MacLellan doesn’t plan on buying out players. However, the cap number may hamstring possible trade partners.
Can an Anthony Mantha Buyout Happen?
A trade is the best possible scenario for Washington. New coach Spencer Carberry may also be tempted to see what he can get out of the forward before giving up on him. Mantha being in a free agent year might raise his game and he might respond to a new coach.
Washington currently has $7.3 million in cap space. Pushing the buyout button would give them some more room for this season at least. Having dead cap space is never ideal, but it may be something the team has to live with in 2024-25.
Main photo by: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
