The Ottawa Senators have already brought in two new forwards this offseason by trading for William Eklund and Andre Burakovsky. While this is the case, it would be wise for them to add at least one more forward to their roster, especially after trading former captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers.
While this year's free agency class is not the strongest, there are some interesting players who can still hit the market on July 1. Among them is Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Mantha, and the Senators would be very wise to target him if he tests free agency.
If the Senators signed Mantha, he would give them a big veteran forward who is coming off an excellent season. In 81 games during this past campaign with the Penguins, he set new career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a strong addition to the Senators' roster.
When looking at a specific spot in the Senators' lineup where Mantha could fit, their second line with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson stands out. He would also be a candidate for power-play time, as he performs well on the man advantage.
Senators signing Mantha is a gamble worth taking
While there is always some risk in signing a UFA who just had a career year, it is a gamble that the Senators should not be afraid to make when it comes to Mantha. Even if his offensive production dropped a bit next season, he would still improve their forward group if signed.
Throughout his career, Mantha has been able to provide solid offensive production. He has scored at least 23 goals and recorded at least 44 points on four different occasions, so he has been a good player throughout his career.
It will be interesting to see if the Senators can end up signing Mantha. However, he will be a very popular target if he hits the market, as he is one of the NHL's best UFA forwards this year.
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