The Red Wings and forward have agreed on a new four-year, $22.5 million dollar contract as Steve Yzerman locks in the team’s goals-per-game leader.
According to David Pagnotta, Mantha’s deal will carry an AAV of $4.5 million for the first year, rise to $5.3 million in the second year then level out at $6.5 million for each of the final two seasons. Furthermore, Pagnotta notes that Mantha’s deal does not include any “no-trade protection in any of the UFA years.”
Obviously, time will tell on with contracts like this but off-hand it’s another good value deal for Steve Yzerman relatively speaking. This is a very similar deal to the Tomas Tatar four-year contract the Red Wings awarded the forward back in 2017. However, given where the salary cap was then and where it is now I would have been completely justified if Mantha received another million added to his AAV. Plus, like the Tatar deal, Mantha’s new contract gives the Red Wings an out if they need to move the forward in the next few seasons.