Flames ahead Anthony Mantha’s season is over after 13 video games. The crew introduced he would require surgical procedure to restore an ACL harm, which he’ll bear on Thursday.
Mantha suffered the harm almost every week in the past, however the crew had been silent a few potential timeline for his return. He suffered the ACL tear after falling on his proper knee following a success from Canadiens ahead Emil Heineman final Tuesday. He landed on injured reserve Thursday, at which level Flames head coach Ryan Huska stated Mantha was nonetheless being evaluated.
It’s devastating for Mantha, a veteran trying to show that final season’s resurgence wasn’t a fluke. Varied accidents have plagued Mantha for a lot of his profession, however by no means costing him as a lot time as this ACL tear will. After breaking the 20-goal plateau twice in his profession early on with the Crimson Wings, Mantha appeared to rediscover his type final yr, potting 20 targets in solely 56 video games with the Capitals earlier than they had been capable of get a pair of draft picks from the Golden Knights on the commerce deadline for his providers. He completed the marketing campaign with three targets and 7 assists in 18 video games for Vegas earlier than hitting unrestricted free company, the place he landed a one-year, $3.5M prove-it deal from the Flames.
This yr, Mantha had 4 targets and three assists, though he additionally recorded a career-low 1.15 pictures per recreation. He averaged 13:54 per recreation, his lowest as a full-time NHLer, and recorded eight blocks and 16 hits.
Mantha, 30, will now have loads of time to get well earlier than testing the UFA market once more subsequent summer season. He’ll be on injured reserve for not less than 100 days this season, which means he’ll be eligible to signal a contract with efficiency bonuses.
In the meantime, the Flames lose a veteran presence who they hoped would add some punch to their depth scoring. Calgary, which has dropped to 7-5-3 following its early-season tear, are clicking at a Twentieth-place 2.80 targets per recreation, and even with Mantha not capturing the puck as a lot as they’d hoped, they’ll must get extra out of their younger gamers to interchange his manufacturing.
2021 first-round choose Matthew Coronato, who was assigned to the AHL for a short interval earlier this season, appears to be the one who stands to learn most from the elevated alternative. He’s rapidly heating up with 5 targets and an help by 10 video games, recording 18 pictures on purpose whereas averaging 14:12 per recreation.
Because of his earlier IR placement, Mantha is already off the energetic roster, however his $3.5M cap hit remains to be in full impact. Given their $23.5M in present area, it’s unlikely the Flames will want elevated monetary flexibility, however they will transfer Mantha to long-term injured reserve at any time.
