Flames’ Anthony Mantha to miss rest of 2024-25 season due to ACL injury

An unfortunate early end to a veteran’s season.

On Monday, the Calgary Flames announced that forward Anthony Mantha is going to have surgery on Thursday to repair an ACL injury. He is being ruled out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Mantha was hurt during last Tuesday’s against the Montreal Canadiens when he fell awkwardly to the ice after receiving a check from Canadiens forward Emil Heineman. The Flames didn’t specify which knee the 30-year-old hurt, but it looked like he did something to his right knee in the incident at the Bell Centre.

The Longueuil, Quebec native was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.

Mantha had played in the Flames’ first 13 games of the season, scoring four goals and three assists for seven points, which had him tied for third in team scoring. He averaged 13:54 of ice time and was plus/minus of +6.

Mantha has been bitten by the injury bug a few times in his career. He was out for four months during the 2021-22 campaign as a member of the Washington Capitals due to shoulder surgery. The closest Mantha had ever come to playing a full 82-game season was during the 2016-17 season with the Detroit Red Wings when he appeared in 80 games.

Mantha moved to Calgary this past offseason after spending the final months of the 2023-24 campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights. On July 1, he signed a one-year contract with the Flames with a cap hit of $3.5 million.

In 507 NHL games, Mantha has scored 146 goals and 157 assists for 303 points. He’s also posted six points in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

The Flames (7-5-3) are tied for third in the Pacific Division with the Vancouver Canucks in points (17) but are fourth in winning percentage (.567). Calgary is scheduled to host the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.