Anthony Mantha got recognized for his monster season by earning the Penguins’ nomination for the NHL’s Masterton Trophy. The award goes to the NHL player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey”. After signing an incentive-laden contract after suffering a major knee injury in 2024-25, Mantha has set career-highs in goals, assists and points this season with Pittsburgh.
From the team:
“I think it’s the first time I got nominated for something in the NHL. So, obviously, that’s awesome,” Mantha said.
“There were some doubts (I could get here). I was kind of mentally preparing myself for a PTO (professional tryout contract). When it happens, and you play 13 games, and Calgary was kind of a prove-it deal – that’s kind of where the head goes to. And I knew I still had some in me. Obviously, I knew I was going to work to get back. And here we are.”
Initially, the prognosis wasn’t bad. Mantha did an MRI, which showed no swelling. The team told Mantha he might be out for a week.
“And then when they hit you with, ‘yeah, you’re done for the year,’ that’s probably the low point,” Mantha said. “And then after that, it takes couple weeks to kind of refocus and get your head right and get to work, get to rehabbing. Just working to find a deal, get a deal, and have a career year.”
Mantha has been vocal about working with Toronto-based mental coach Matt Caldaroni for the last several years. It started when he underwent shoulder surgery during the 2021-22 season, which Mantha spent with Washington. He had the procedure that November and returned to action in March.
At that point, Mantha said he had “kind of lost the passion, maybe, for hockey. I was getting injured every other year, and it was just taking a toll mentally and physically. We kind of worked on loving the game again.”
So, when this most recent injury happened, Mantha was constantly communicating with Caldaroni throughout the entire process.
“Our sole focus was to be the best version of myself this year, and that was from Day 1 of rehabbing all the way to the start of this year,” Mantha said. “And obviously, I think I’m there right now. Obviously, best results of my career for stats-wise, but I think just also as a person and as a dad of three now. So, it’s pretty cool.”
What also figures to be cool for Mantha is that he is the highest goalscoring impending free agent and is in-line for a healthy contract in 2026-27. Whether or not that will be with the Penguins or somewhere else remains to be seen, but the Pens have benefited immensely Mantha’s dedication and perseverance to get a career year out of him this season.
