ChesterNimitz
governed by the principle of calculated risk
- Jul 4, 2002
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Fortunately people on this Board ( including this august writer) don’t make personnel decisions for this team.
Player Discussion Mike Matheson
- Thread starter KevSkillz4
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One thing I should have noted is that Brisebois didn't deserve the hate he received. He and Matheson have one thing in common, they were always asked to play in a top pairing role when in reality they were both suited for 2nd pairing responsibilities
ChesterNimitz
governed by the principle of calculated risk
- Jul 4, 2002
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I remain somewhat puzzled as to what is expected of a supposedly top pairing defenceman and how our team is supposedly to acquire such a creature?
When one looks around the league, which teams have a supposedly top pairing defenceman ( who in some posters' opinion must necessarily be superior to Matheson) on their current rosters? Does Toronto have a defenceman superior to Matheson? The Oilers? The Flames? The Jets? Black Hawks? Kings? You can go on and on. Yes, Matheson is not Makar, or some of the other elite defenceman. But a defenceman who possesses his elite mobility, can play 25 minutes a game, is among the top 10 scoring defencemen in the league, who can play in all game situations and is durable is, by any definition, a top pairing defenceman. Regardless if there are dozen or so more talented defencemen in the league..
People should appreciate what Matheson brings to the team because it would be hard to replace him and any such top pairing defenceman would cost significantly more in salary.
As I said, Hughes is not trading him despite those elements of the braying crowd who are insistent on this fine player being moved. And we should all be thankful for that.
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JianYang
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
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Top 15 in points tied to Streit in a season (Habs history) at currently 62. You goof keep shitting on him
Was streit considered a dman that year? I seem to recall he was a forward who played the triggerman at the point on a deadly powerplay.
Correct, played mostly forward plus pointman.
Streit scored a big ES goal in Game 7 of the Bruins series, as a forward.
Matheson is a much better player at ages 28-30 than Brisebois was.
JianYang
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About the only thing I liked about breezer 1.0 was his passing. He could really feather them into someone's wheelhouse when he wasn't f***ing things up.
I actually liked him more when he came back at the end of his career in a non-primary role.
Les Habitants
Registered User
2 years left on his contract, rejuvenated, had one of his best seasons last year... Maybe it's time to sell with his value being close to an all time high? Guhle needs to start playing on the left, I'm going to guess Hutson sticks with the team and starts taking PP1 time lowering Mathesons numbers and his trade value. I think with the depth that we have and the youngsters needing more ice time this season would be a perfect time to trade him... we bought low, sell at the high and pick up pieces that will help us win #25.
I get the reasons to keep him, he's been "solid", putting up points, eats ice time, help the youth develop but i just feel like the perfect opportunity to sell would be in the near future before age creeps in or injuries start occurring
I get the reasons to keep him, he's been "solid", putting up points, eats ice time, help the youth develop but i just feel like the perfect opportunity to sell would be in the near future before age creeps in or injuries start occurring
I understand selling high, but Matheson is needed on the 1st pair with Ghule now. No one is ready in the team to replace any of them. I’d say we might sell him next year . It gives us more time to evaluate where Reinbacher , Mailloux and Hutson stand at.
ChesterNimitz
governed by the principle of calculated risk
- Jul 4, 2002
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And get back what? I would suggest that the rest of the league values Matheson much higher than some posters here. 26-28 minutes a game, 60 points, great skater who can play in all game situations, respected team leader and all for under $5 million a year for the next two years. No question Matheson's value has never been higher. As it should be. I believe he will be strongly considered for Team Canada. We will need his mobility.
If we trade this valuable, but much maligned player, we will only be joining the many teams who are looking for their wheel horse defenceman. Hughes isn't trading Matheson.
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Trading a player like Matheson is how you stay in a perennial rebuild.
ChesterNimitz
governed by the principle of calculated risk
- Jul 4, 2002
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The guy is Montreal born, put the best season for a dman since Subban, is a real pro with the young core and his life. Is the new kind of dman that the league needs. No way this guy gets traded if the next negociation goes well. He needs to be there. Cant have a d core of 6 dman under 25 years old, impossible.
I preferred his 22-23 season, but in 2 years, he should log 21-22 min per night and that will help him a lot. He is a keeper.
Top 10 skater in the entire league. Habs fleeced Pittsburgh
Long term, Hutson and Guhle are our LH dmen in the top 4. Matheson isn't a bottom six guy, so he will need to go eventually, regardless. Trading him now when his value is highest and dealing with the growing pains of the younger D means this team will be ready for an extremely long cup window if guys like Dach and Demidov work out up front.
They will be in for a playoff spot as of next year. The kids need to have a model, a mentor, but a good mentor is way better. The coaches need the veteran as well. Its not a cliché. Matheson will help them and will be on the tor 4 for the next 4-5 years. If he wants 8m per year for his next contract, he will be traded or not signed back. For the next pairing, that will be their problem. I think both can pay on their right. I know it's not perfect, but you dont trade him for that. He is a top 4 dman.
In a perfect world, I understand your point of trading him as his value will never be higher. However, we aren't on the stock market. We are trying to build something for the long term and we could be very good as of next year. He has been vulnerable a few times, but his icetime was too much.
On top of that, we cant say for sure that Xhekaj will be good, Mailloux, etc. I think Hutson is a slam dunk, Guhle should be fine as well, Reinbacher too. After that, there is no certainty.
I know it's debatable, but IMO, we are at the time of our rebuild where good veterans are needed and all the teams are looking for 6f+ dman who are able to join the rush, skate well, etc.
I would put a lot of money into that he won't be traded until Hughes is still there.
jj cale
Registered User
Matheson doesn't deserve the hate he gets from the fans and you have given a perfect example of why.
Matheson's an imperfect player ( almost everyone is, some more and some less)................................ but a good one. He has been far from a problem on our team.
Non Player Canadiens
Registered User
huh, i forgot he existed for a good 2-3 months there.
edit: alright for something more substantial ... he drove me nuts last year, i was one of the haters. maybe this year he won't if he plays in the middle pairing where he belongs.
edit: alright for something more substantial ... he drove me nuts last year, i was one of the haters. maybe this year he won't if he plays in the middle pairing where he belongs.
Until someone steps in and proves they can take over and put up 60 plus points, even 50 points, I totally agree. No one has been remotely close to that yet, and to expect a rookie to do that this year is nuts.
Overall, he does have some flaws and I’m not sure he can become one of the elite offensive dmen in the league, but he is our number 1 defenceman. Maybe cutting down on his minutes will help his overall game while still allowing him to produce at the same level is the solution. I’m excited to see what he can do with a stronger top 6 and better PP.
_vivelequebec_
Registered User
God I hate this board sometimes. Last year, he finished 9th in points for D, he already is an elite offensive dman. It's like people saying Suzuki is not a 1st center when he finished 17th in points and 16th in goals among centers.
Guhle played the right side last year because Mailloux, Reinbacher and Engstrom were not ready yet. Not because of Matheson.
If Matheson, Guhle and Hutson play the left side in 25-26, and Xhekaj or Struble are better than Barron, then one of them will play on the right on the third pair.
Mailloux-Matheson
Reinbacher-Guhle
Struble/Xhekaj-Hutson
Guhle does not HAVE to play right side, though we should note that it's not the end of the world. The Habs did not trade Larry Robinson in order to play Serge Savard on the left side.
Harry Kakalovich
Like and reply
I like Matheson. I would look to move him in a trade sometime before his contract expires. Matheson and Laine at the 2026 TDL on expiring contracts could potentially return significant assets for non-core pieces.
If Laine could return significant assets, then he would probably be a core piece.
It's definitely ok to extend a 28 year old core piece goal scorer.
Matheson at 32 would be a tougher call, but BIG IF he accepts #2-3D money, and the team is very competitive, maybe THEY SHOULD EXTEND. We will have lots of value contracts, we will be able to afford a couple of market rate ones for performing players. You don't win the prize with a tank/rebuild salary structure and a whole team under 27.
One possible strategy could be to reduce Matheson's rather tough PK minutes if Struble or Xhekaj can handle some of the load along with a top duo of Guhle and Reinbacher.
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