Vegas informs four players they won't be back next season

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Josh Tupper
June 3, 2024 (1:28 PM)

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As with the Vegas Golden Knights recently, teams around the National Hockey League have started to decide whether or not to bring back specific players.

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon will have a busy summer ahead of her since several important players become unrestricted free agents on July 1st. Some of those UFAs have reportedly already been told by McCrimmon and the Golden Knights' management team that they won't be re-signed.

Former first-round selection Anthony Mantha, along with forwards Michael Amadio and William Carrier, will not be returning to Vegas for the upcoming season. Instead, they will be available on the free market on Canada Day, as reported by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

Pagnotta continued by saying that Alex Martinez is currently without a spot on the Golden Knights' blueline and that he is currently considering his options in front of the summer.

"Here's what we know so far: forwards Michael Amadio, William Carrier and Anthony Mantha will not be brought back. All three are aware and are planning to test the free agent market July 1. Defenceman Alec Martinez doesn't appear to have a spot on the blueline any longer; he'll be 37 in late-July and word is he's evaluating his options." Pagnotta said.

The Detroit Red Wings chose Mantha, 29, with the 20th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Before being traded to the Washington Capitals in 2021, he played over portions of six seasons in Detroit. Mantha was traded by the Capitals to the Golden Knights for a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and a fourth-round pick in 2026, after spending a portion of four seasons in D.C.

During the regular season, the Longueuil, Quebec native played in 18 games for Vegas, scoring 10 points (three goals, seven assists), logging eight penalty minutes, and finishing plus-six. Additionally, he skated in three Stanley Cup Playoff games but was ineffective.

It'll be interesting to see what the Golden Knights do this summer on the free agent market, especially when it comes to one of their own UFAs, Jonathan Marchessault. Vegas has said they would like to keep the 33-year-old around, but there's a pretty good chance he'll at least test the open market on July 1st to see what he can get after putting up 42 goals in the 2023-24 campaign.

Source - The Fourth Period: WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS DOESN'T ALWAYS STAY IN VEGAS