The Vegas Golden Knights were highly active during the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, one of their notable moves being the acquisition of forward Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals. Despite their efforts, the Golden Knights could not replicate their previous success, ultimately falling to the Dallas Stars in a seven-game series in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In light of their early exit, the team is reassessing their decisions. This week, they took a significant step by notifying pending unrestricted free agent Anthony Mantha that he will not be re-signed for the upcoming season. Mantha, set to explore free agency on July 1, expressed a mix of excitement and anxiety about his future. “Vegas made it clear that they were not going to put me back under contract,” Mantha told RDS. “I’m excited, but at the same time, I’m stressed as everything comes into play. We’ll see, whether it’s July 1st or a little later. Hoping we will have good news.”
During his brief stint with Vegas, Mantha managed to contribute 10 points (three goals and seven assists) over 18 regular-season games, averaging 14:26 of ice time per game. He encountered a minor, undisclosed injury towards the end of the season and was largely ineffective in the playoffs, participating in only the first three of the seven games without scoring and ending with a minus-1 rating.
Mantha had shown promise earlier in the season with Washington, achieving 20 goals for the first time since the 2018-19 season. He recorded 34 points and a plus-5 rating over 56 games with the Capitals, revitalizing his career with a total of 44 points, his best since 2018-19 (48 points). The 29-year-old forward was completing the final season of a four-year, $22.8 million contract ($5.7 million average annual value) originally signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 2020.
A broader look at the Golden Knights’ season reveals a significant issue with continuity. The team used 75 different forward line combinations and 26 unique defense pairs throughout the 82-game regular season, involving 21 forwards and 13 defensemen. This constant shuffling is seen as a key factor in their inability to maintain consistent performance and ultimately their failure to advance past the first playoff round.
For example, the most frequently used line of Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel, and Jonathan Marchessault played together for 43 games, while the most common defensive pairing of Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore appeared in 48 games together. Some players experienced even more disruption; Michael Amadio played on 26 different lines in his 73 games, and Nic Hague paired with nine different defense partners.
The 75 different lines this season are not the most the Golden Knights have used in recent years. During the 2021-22 season under coach Pete DeBoer, the team deployed 108 different line combinations involving 25 players. Chandler Stephenson’s 24 different lines in 75 games this season underscore the instability, affecting his production as his linemates and positions constantly shifted.
Grigori Denisenko experienced an unusual situation, playing on five different lines in just five games, becoming the first Golden Knight since their inaugural season to do so. This level of line instability starkly contrasts with the consistent pairing of Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb, who played together in every game Theodore was available under coach Bruce Cassidy.
Injuries also played a role in the team’s fluctuating lines. Alec Martinez and Alex Pietrangelo, usually paired together, each missed significant time due to injuries, leading them to play with five different partners each. This lack of continuity likely contributed to both players having subpar statistical seasons compared to their previous performances.
In summary, the Golden Knights’ season was marked by frequent changes in their lineup, which hindered their ability to build on their championship success. The decision not to re-sign Anthony Mantha is part of their broader effort to recalibrate and improve team stability for future success.
