Hockey

Defending champion Golden Knights trade for Capitals' Mantha as deadline nears

The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals in a trade finalized Tuesday. The defending Stanley Cup champions sent a 2024 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder to Washington for the pending free agent winger.

Vegas sends 2nd-, 4th-round picks to Washington for pending free-agent winger

A hockey player looks ahead.
Forward Anthony Mantha, seen above in November 2023, was traded from the Washington Capitals to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday in exchange for two draft picks. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals in a trade finalized Tuesday.

The defending Stanley Cup champions sent a 2024 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder to Washington for the pending free agent winger. The Capitals are retaining half of Mantha's salary.

Mantha, of Longueuil, Que., just reached 20 goals in a season for the first time since 2019. He gives Vegas a valuable depth player as it tries to become the first repeat title winner since Pittsburgh in 2016 and '17.

The 29-year-old was one of several likely trade candidates the Capitals have to move before the deadline Friday. Fellow forwards Max Pacioretty and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel and defenceman Joel Edmundson are also pending free agents expected to be traded, along with centre Nic Dowd and goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who are signed through next season.

The Golden Knights may also not be done dealing as they seek to make another long playoff run. After putting captain Mark Stone on long-term injured reserve, they have more cap space to use on acquisitions.

The NHL trade deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

With files from CBC Sports

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

Get up to speed on what's happening in sports. Delivered weekdays.

...

The next issue of The Buzzer will soon be in your inbox.

Discover all CBC newsletters in the Subscription Centre.opens new window

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.