Player Discussion Mike Matheson

[StCaufield]

If he’s actually playing under 20 mins a game and used the way he should be at 3.5-4.5 million a year then it’s a no brainer. He’s been misused badly. He’s a bone head at times yes but I think he’d take a discount and be okay with a reduced role.

 

[StCaufield]

people underestimate how important and valuable he is on this team. Still I feel it's time to move on because I don't want to sign his next contract... which probably won't age well...

I think it would age well personally. His skating is his bread and butter and it’s pretty effortless. He just needs to be playing under 20 minutes

 

[morhilane]

Matheson isn't going to take a $3.5m-4.5m AAV on his next deal, his current contract has a AAV of $4,875,000, cap his rising and the Habs played him in a sure way to increase his demands, not reduce it.

 

[Le Tricolore]

I think Matheson was a lot better this past year than the year before. The reduced role with Hutson taking over as the 1D definitely helped him, IMO. I'd prefer to trade him, but we'd need to get some vets on D. We can't go into next year with Carrier as the most experienced defenseman on the team.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I think Matheson was a lot better this past year than the year before. The reduced role with Hutson taking over as the 1D definitely helped him, IMO. I'd prefer to trade him, but we'd need to get some vets on D. We can't go into next year with Carrier as the most experienced defenseman on the team.

We also can't go into next year with him being the only legit RD we have. RB and Mailloux may or may not be ready. We absolutely need help on RD. Even more than 2nd C.

 

[The Real Timo]

I think it would age well personally. His skating is his bread and butter and it’s pretty effortless. He just needs to be playing under 20 minutes

And we all know it won't happen. St Louis has some kind of pathological fascination with Matheson and as long as he is the coach, Matheson will continue playing top minutes. Matheson needs to be gone and Hughes needs to bring a steady realizable defenseman instead. It's not like Matheson has produced on offense this past season despite all his wonderful skating.

 

[BLONG7]

Matheson isn't going to take a $3.5m-4.5m AAV on his next deal, his current contract has a AAV of $4,875,000, cap his rising and the Habs played him in a sure way to increase his demands, not reduce it.

Then he can leave...........he is redundant now that Hutson runs the show from the back end, 5 on5 and the PP

He could be traded for a RD and our balance back there would be better.

 

[WinterLion]

I think it would age well personally. His skating is his bread and butter and it’s pretty effortless. He just needs to be playing under 20 minutes

I guess it depends on the term and salary... maybe 2-3 years but I would think he would want 4-5

 

[WinterLion]

Matheson isn't going to take a $3.5m-4.5m AAV on his next deal, his current contract has a AAV of $4,875,000, cap his rising and the Habs played him in a sure way to increase his demands, not reduce it.

That's what I think... he deserves a bigger contract and will get it with another team. I think we trade him to a team that wants to extend him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

And we all know it won't happen. St Louis has some kind of pathological fascination with Matheson and as long as he is the coach, Matheson will continue playing top minutes. Matheson needs to be gone and Hughes needs to bring a steady realizable defenseman instead. It's not like Matheson has produce on offense this past season despite all his wonderful skating.

I just don’t get why you need to lay it on so thick man….

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Then he can leave...........he is redundant now that Hutson runs the show from the back end, 5 on5 and the PP

He could be traded for a RD and our balance back there would be better.

In the right role on the right team I think he can be really useful. I just don’t think he fits here. You’re right we need a lot more balance.

He could be a really good 2nd pairing somewhere with a good defense partner.

It’s a shame he can’t seem to simplify his game a little. He can be really effective when he’s not trying to do too much.

 

[The Real Timo]

Then he can leave...........he is redundant now that Hutson runs the show from the back end, 5 on5 and the PP

He could be traded for a RD and our balance back there would be better.

I'd be interested to see how Hutson handles his second full season... Team will target him a lot more now. He looked at times overwhlemed and outmatched in the playoffs. He needs a partner that can smash and face stick in case someone tries to take liberties with him.

 

[Sorinth]

Matheson isn't going to take a $3.5m-4.5m AAV on his next deal, his current contract has a AAV of $4,875,000, cap his rising and the Habs played him in a sure way to increase his demands, not reduce it.

It's not as simple as looking at his current cap hit and saying rising cap = pay raise. He basically failed to live up to his current contract in 6 of the 8 years. Of the 2 years where he did (Both with us), one of those was only a half season. On top of that he's going to be 32 when any extension starts which will drive the cap hit down especially if term is given.

In the end Matheson appears to be willing to give a discount to stay, and likely values a NTC/NMC higher then most. Now I'm not saying we should do this, but if we went the full 8 years with most if not all under a NMC then it probably does get you to <4m. But what does a medium term contract look like? That's a lot harder to judge.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

It’ll come down to $$$ as it almost always does, if Matheson takes a hometown discount, wouldn't surprise me if he’s extended - I don’t see MM getting market $$$ though

The problem is, when Matheson gets paid, so does Hughes.

Not directly, but all of his former colleagues at the company he’s built benefit. Matheson’s agent is Vinny’s brother, there isn’t a player more closely tied to the Habs brass off the ice than Matheson.

So the best bet for Hughes, because he wants to see Matheson get paid but doesn’t want to be the one paying him, is to move him somewhere else. The problem will be if Matheson gets butthurt about this and Hughes caves to his ask, like when MB shed tears over Gallagher.

Just trade him to a team of his choice with a fat extension in place, it will limit our return but it will be much better than extending him

 

[BaseballCoach]

The problem is, when Matheson gets paid, so does Hughes.

Not directly, but all of his former colleagues at the company he’s built benefit. Matheson’s agent is Vinny’s brother, there isn’t a player more closely tied to the Habs brass off the ice than Matheson.

So the best bet for Hughes, because he wants to see Matheson get paid but doesn’t want to be the one paying him, is to move him somewhere else. The problem will be if Matheson gets butthurt about this and Hughes caves to his ask, like when MB shed tears over Gallagher.

Just trade him to a team of his choice with a fat extension in place, it will limit our return but it will be much better than extending him

I think he extends for 3 years @ $4.5M or 4 years @ $4M

 

[vokiel]

delete

 

[Scriptor]

Okay. So we trade Xhekaj then? Struble too I guess?

I'd keep Xhekaj and alternate him in and out of the lineup for the next two or three years. Once we trade Matheson, Xhekaj will be more mature and in his prime as he becomes a full-time, 3rd pairing LHD.

 

[Scriptor]

Only 6 spots for Def; Habs been total crap and just had an improbably « mid » season with the captain pulling everyone… Pretty sure if some of out favorites don’t get pushed out of the line up the habs will keep just sucking unfortunately.

LD is a tough spot to earn.. after Hutson and Guhle there’s only one spot left and that includes the line up, farm and future drafts / trades / ufa’s

Once Matheson retires you regret losing Xjekaj but not sure how he would be ahead in the depth chart

Habs need to keep swinging for home runs and package prospects and picks for a few top tier players (including the sheriff).. Suzuki prime years are now.

And need a 1RHD..

Engström will be good replacement for Xhekaj if we end up losing him, but I don't think we should, even if we extend Matheson for three years, provided there is no huge NMC in the final two years of the contract extension.

I would give a full NMC in the1st year, but only 5 teams t be named in the last two years.

 

[Scriptor]

Yeah ideally habs become so strong at RHD Xhekaj stays in the line up as 3ld.. We’ll see how the summer goes If it’s status quo it kind of sucks to watch all these average nhlers play on their off side so they can ice their tough guy.

No-one in the org can safely step in and improve on Matheson right now; he’s 2-3 lhd ahead of Stuble and Xjekaj. I’m on the trade him train too; you need a top tier RHD on that team to better last year..

Ideally, Matheson lands a good package back at next year's trade deadline. We use the Cap space saved on Matheson and the assets received to sign a comparable RHD at the deadline.

That's the best case scenario - use one side to complement the other.

Barring that, I'm not against keeping Matheson at a home discount and potentially moving him in two or three years.

 

[Scriptor]

I think Matheson was a lot better this past year than the year before. The reduced role with Hutson taking over as the 1D definitely helped him, IMO. I'd prefer to trade him, but we'd need to get some vets on D. We can't go into next year with Carrier as the most experienced defenseman on the team.

Matheson agreed to redefine his game and take on more of a shutdown role this past season, selflessly leaving center stage to the obviously deserving rookie. He's definitely a team first type of player and provides much needed veteran leadership on the blue line, more so now that Savard is gone.

 

[Scriptor]

We also can't go into next year with him being the only legit RD we have. RB and Mailloux may or may not be ready. We absolutely need help on RD. Even more than 2nd C.

I agree with you, but 2C takes the pole, not RHD. Worst comes to worst, we play Hutson at RD again until the trade deadline.By then, either Reinbacher is ready, or we trade Matheson away as a rental and trade for a veteran RHD with the assets gained and the Cap space gained.

Matheson - Carrier
Guhle - Hutson
Xhekaj/Struble - Mailloux/Reinbacher

 

[Theodore450]

We should not entertain resigning this guy.

 

[HabzSauce]

We should not entertain resigning this guy.

Ya I'd be cool with moving him

Hutson - X
Guhle - Carrier
Xhekaj/struble - Reinbacher/Mailloux

Trade matheson + whatever else & land a top 4 RD

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I think he extends for 3 years @ $4.5M or 4 years @ $4M

I would love that actually