3 recently traded forwards the NY Islanders must target in NHL free agency

Anthony Mantha, W/Vegas Golden Knights

Finally, we have Anthony Mantha, who would be another cost-effective option for the Islanders if his surge later in the season didn’t immensely raise his value. It shouldn’t, but sometimes you never know what these front office executives will pay players if they want them with their organization badly enough. 

Mantha’s final 49 regular season games were something else, as he scored 16 goals and tacked on another 16 assists, giving him 32 points in that span. Before December 21st, 2023, his overall luck was a little different, as he logged a meager 12 points, albeit seven goals, in 25 contests. 

But let’s adjust the number of goals across 82 games, starting with what he scored in the first 25. Take seven, and divide it by 25, and multiply by 82, which gives you a decimal between 22 and 23. Not a bad number for an Islanders team that needs another scorer.

But if Mantha continues to parlay what he accomplished in those last 49 games, he’s looking at a season between 26 and 27 goals, assuming he’s around for all 82 games and scores at the same pace. He didn’t enjoy the same kind of luck in the NHL Playoffs, but Mantha showed he can score. 

He also enjoyed a couple of respectable seasons in the Motor City back when he was a member of the Detroit Red Wings, finding the net 49 times in 147 games between 2017 and 2019. So if his price remains reasonable, Mantha would be more than just a solid option to place in the middle of the Islanders lineup. 

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)