Player Discussion Mike Matheson

[The Great Weal]

While I love how he’s looking right now, he is way more likely to revert back to being a #4 dman rather than having a Petry-like development.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

The habs are in a rebuild and Matheson is 29 years old. A team could give a lot for him.

He'll be 32 at the 2026 trade deadline. Maybe he'll be worth a 1st. We should hold onto him at a cap hit of 4,875,000$ he's a bargain.

 

[Deebs]

While I love how he’s looking right now, he is way more likely to revert back to being a #4 dman rather than having a Petry-like development.

Petry was a second pairing guy as well. His brain, much like Matheson's, will never allow him to be a top pairing guy year in, year out. Nothing wrong with that either.

 

[26Mats]

Petry was a second pairing guy as well. His brain, much like Matheson's, will never allow him to be a top pairing guy year in, year out. Nothing wrong with that either.

Petry was ideally a second pair guy, but he was a #2. If he's the 2nd best dman on your team, you're in good shape.

Effective d pairings often go:

#1 - #3/#4
#2 - #3/#4

 

[The Great Weal]

Petry was a second pairing guy as well. His brain, much like Matheson's, will never allow him to be a top pairing guy year in, year out. Nothing wrong with that either.

Petry was one of the few dmen in the league to put up 40+ point seasons 4 years in a row. He was a #2 dman. His peak didn’t last for long, but he was more than good enough for a #2 dman.

 

[Saku K]

Matheson is in his prime years and I like him more than I tought I would. If he is handed the first powerplay spot and stay healthy, I have no problem thinking he could get petry-like numbers for a couple of years until a younger player (hutson most likely or maybe mailloux) take him off that spot. He seems to limit his mistakes well so far for his high risk playing style. I don't know if he can keep up his production/play but he is well worth his contract in our team situation right now.

In the future, I would try to upgrade his value by exactly giving him the role he is playing right now until the kids are ready to take his offensive responsabilities and then trade him at the peak value in 2-3 years while he is moving down the depth chart due to our prospects developing and improving. Obviously, a lot can happen during this time and not everything is set in stone.

 

[Deebs]

Petry was one of the few dmen in the league to put up 40+ point seasons 4 years in a row. He was a #2 dman. His peak didn’t last for long, but he was more than good enough for a #2 dman.

For a few years sure

 

[Benstheman]

He’s keeping Hutson’s seat warm right now. Matheson plays well right now and we need veterans that can take the heat off younger players shoulders.

I say keep him until trade deadline of his last contract year. If we are in a playoffs position, you keep him. If not, trade him.

 

[rik schau]

Haven't seen a ton of him before this season but if he keeps this up,will be a Norris candidate down the road.

 

[Naslundforever]

He’s keeping Hutson’s seat warm right now. Matheson plays well right now and we need veterans that can take the heat off younger players shoulders.

I say keep him until trade deadline of his last contract year. If we are in a playoffs position, you keep him. If not, trade him.

Oof one kid is in college, is light as a feather and can’t skate backwards while Matheson skates like Coffey, is 6’2 195lbs and is rocking it in the nhl.

Not sure one is taking the other’s spot lol

 

[Paddy17]

Matheson is such an incredible skater. He accelerates so effortlessly without needing that many big strides. His first steps are phenomenal.

 

[417]

Been very impressed, he's not a top pairing guy but he's exactly the kind of Dman you want on your 2nd pair if you've got a solid stay at home defensive partner.

Matheson and Anderson remain, IMO, our 2 best trade chips.

I don't think the time to move them is now but maybe next offseason....

 

[Benstheman]

Oof one kid is in college, is light as a feather and can’t skate backwards while Matheson skates like Coffey, is 6’2 195lbs and is rocking it in the nhl.

Not sure one is taking the other’s spot lol

I guess we have different understanding of the expression « rocking it in the NHL ». The guy skates like Coffey but the comparison stop there.

I like Matheson but he is a 0,5 ppg D that struggle playing defensively. And he will be 32 yo when his contract ends.

Haven't seen a ton of him before this season but if he keeps this up,will be a Norris candidate down the road.

Not even close. You guys are too much hypnotized by his speed.

 

[Naslundforever]

I guess we have different understanding of the expression « rocking it in the NHL ». The guy skates like Coffey but the comparison stop there.

I like Matheson but he is a 0,5 ppg D that struggle playing defensively. And he will be 32 yo when his contract ends.


Not even close. You guys are too much hypnotized by his speed.

I meant rocking it compared to a college rookie working on his first beard. Hutson has talent and hopefully pans out, but college is not in the same universe as the nhl. I’ve been reading hype on hf too long to get too excited until they are in the show. Matheson is a solid established nhl D. Maybe the kid has a higher ceiling, but I only believe in things actual (been watching too much Sam Harris possibly lol)

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

Matheson is such an incredible skater. He accelerates so effortlessly without needing that many big strides. His first steps are phenomenal.

Mailloux will be better than Matheson, he's bigger, has a better shot, physical and skates like the wind also.

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

Haven't seen a ton of him before this season but if he keeps this up,will be a Norris candidate down the road.

too much

 

[Andy]

One of my favorite players this year. Is he a little risky? Yah, but so what.

Fantastic veteren D-man to have on the back for the next few years!

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

surprised me alot this year hopefully he can keep it up

 

[Steve Shutt]

HuGo looking good on this trade.

Petry's request to be moved combined with a large contract and NMC/NTC made it a significant challenge to move him.
Sacrificing a 23 year old Poehling with only 85 NHL games of experience is looking like the right call.

Matheson is on a 54 point pace over a full season.
Let's hope our scouting team can hit on the 2023 4th.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

Been very impressed, he's not a top pairing guy but he's exactly the kind of Dman you want on your 2nd pair if you've got a solid stay at home defensive partner.

Matheson and Anderson remain, IMO, our 2 best trade chips.

I don't think the time to move them is now but maybe next offseason....

Nah we keep both till the end. Cup runs are coming soon enough for us.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

HuGo looking good on this trade.

Petry's request to be moved combined with a large contract and NMC/NTC made it a significant challenge to move him.
Sacrificing a 23 year old Poehling with only 85 NHL games of experience is looking like the right call.

Matheson is on a 54 point pace over a full season.
Let's hope our scouting team can hit on the 2023 4th.

Poehling was also clearly unpopular in the locker room and seems to have fit in better with his teammates in Pittsburgh. His family is very conservative and they were vocal Trump supporters and donors.

It seems to me that from everything Hughes has said publicly, he cares more about bringing in high quality people than high quality talent. He seems very loyal and is always talking about how good players are as humans (Matheson and Edmundson), it was the first thing he mentioned about Matheson after the trade. Hughes got rid of 2 players that didn't fit his "quality person" criteria, and it has worked out so far. It will be interesting to see what he does with Mailloux and Gurianov (reports that he won't sign Russians)

 

[Captain Mountain]

Matheson is left side Petry with much more speed and less playing the body.

Petry was a second pairing guy as well. His brain, much like Matheson's, will never allow him to be a top pairing guy year in, year out. Nothing wrong with that either.

I'm not sure what your cut-off for 1st pair D-man are, but if you think Petry or Matheson's "brains" prevent them being top pairing guys, then I think you need spend more time watching top pair guys on other teams. Both are suited to being the driver on a strong 2nd pair, but they're in the 2-3 D range comfortably.

 

[Scriptor]

If we are competitive by 2026, and Matheson plays with equal skill and spunk as now, then it is likely we will extend him. With a better surrounding cast, he might be at 60 points and +40.

You may have heard of the concept. It's called keeping your good players. Unless we are already planning Dach's 2026 deadline deal and Suzuki's 2030 deadline deal. It's like some folks think tanking is forever.

How is what I propose tanking?

I think that trading Matheson for a legitimate young, top pairing RHD is a worthwhile sacrifice, primarily because we have depth on the left side and there are no guarantees that Mailloux or Barron can become top-pairing RHDs.

You lose Matheson, sure, but set up on the right side for the long term.

Hutson - legitimate Young 1st pairing RHD acquired for Matheson
Guhle - Mailloux
Xhekaj - Barron
Kovacevic, Harris, Engstrom

 

[Tetragrammaton]

I think that trading Matheson for a legitimate young, top pairing RHD is a worthwhile sacrifice

Nope, no way, he's too good and becoming better as he ages. Hard no.

We have enough young D-men coming up, we need veterans and Matheson is a keeper. Savard too.

 

[Captain Mountain]

I think that trading Matheson for a legitimate young, top pairing RHD is a worthwhile sacrifice, primarily because we have depth on the left side and there are no guarantees that Mailloux or Barron can become top-pairing RHDs.

You lose Matheson, sure, but set up on the right side for the long term.

Hutson - legitimate Young 1st pairing RHD acquired for Matheson
Guhle - Mailloux
Xhekaj - Barron
Kovacevic, Harris, Engstrom

What kind of young 1st pairing RHD do you expect Matheson and Anderson returning? Apart from perhaps young right hand shot 1st line centers, those guys have the most trade value. You'd also be expecting the acquiring team to take on a lot of salary.