Player Discussion Mike Matheson

[Habs Halifax]

Matheson will get 7M on his next contract
and deservedly so. He has flaws but he's still a good player and a solid #3.

Agreed. And he's kind of a bridge to Reinbacher, Xhekaj, Struble, Mailloux, Engstrom.

Here is what is likely to happen with our D. They take a few years to mature. During this maturity time, the Habs will improve overall as a team but no real deep playoff run until all that D is age 25+. Until then, someone like Matheson can be used.

In terms of what it takes for him to stay? I think he wants to stay and does not want to head into this season without a contract and all the trade discussions/distractions. He wants stability. So that means he is willing to take less to stay. I won't be shocked if he takes $5.5M or $6M AAV.... probably asks for 10 team NTC.

If he stays with the Habs, my guess is the contract is 5x $5.5M with 10 team NTC. Hughes will take advantage of Matheson wanting to stay like Evans.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I don't mean to bully the guy but I honestly have no idea how he gets a pass from some Habs fans. I've never seen an NHLer throw so many pizzas or get stick lifted from behind as the last man back in my life. It's honestly shocking. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion but personally I think we need to move this guy regardless of our depth on LD. He's a goddamn tire fire.

What you are doing is targeting flaws of a player and getting obsessed at it to a point where it's all you look for. "The next mistake".

Matheson deserves credit for his improvement and hard work. Habs were playing him too much before Hutson came and I think you are overlooking high usage with Matheson which lead to him being more exposed.

Team Canada had him on their list bud. Are they idiots? Or are they noticing the improvement in his game and that rare skating ability? Think about it more.

Players should be allowed to improve and our Habs fan base did this exact same treatment towards Danault.

 

[Favster]

What you are doing is targeting flaws of a player and getting obsessed at it to a point where it's all you look for. "The next mistake".

Matheson deserves credit for his improvement and hard work. Habs were playing him too much before Hutson came and I think you are overlooking high usage with Matheson which lead to him being more exposed.

Nah that's not the case, the guy is just so incredibly unpredictable and you never know what he's going to do out there. Obviously he's been overused but IMO the arrival of Hutson has made him even worse out there. It's like he's trying to show he can do stuff Hutson can do and obviously he can't.

If Matheson played within his limits, used his feet and moved the puck quick he'd be a solid top 4 defender. The problem is he doesn't seem to understand what his limits are.

I'll stop shitting on the guy because I have for the last 2 seasons lol but IMO resigning him would be a huge mistake. He is not the type of defensivement you can have playing 20 minutes a night on a contending team.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Nah that's noy the case, the guy is just so incredibly unpredictable and you never know what he's going to do out there. Obviously he's been overused but IMO the arrival of Hutson has made him even worse out there. It's like he's trying to show he can do stuff Hutson can do and obviously he can't.

If Matheson played within his limits, used his feet and moved the puck quick he'd be a solid top 4 defender. The problem is he doesn't seem to understand what his limits are.

I'll stop shitting on the guy because I have for the last 2 seasons lol but IMO resigning him would be a huge mistake. He is not the type of defensivement you can have playing 20 minutes a night on a contending team.

I think he is a very solid #3 guy and I value his skating and puck moving (that's not easy to acquire). Mistakes are made and my advice is to watch others like him. His giveaways/60 is not something to brag about but when you look at his number and see others who are close to him, you should get a sign or indication. Maybe we are being too hard on his "mistakes".

I also think he was a bit more stable once Hutson became the #1 guy taking more minutes. I can clearly see him working harder in the trust area of the game and I'm sure MSL is working with him on that. Let them figure it out

 

[WeThreeKings]

If he extends in Montreal, it would be a contract reflecting the fact he would be the 3rd LD on the depth chart.. I don't think he's going to take less money to do that, nor take that small of an opportunity.

He will be an own rental or traded.

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't mean to bully the guy but I honestly have no idea how he gets a pass from some Habs fans. I've never seen an NHLer throw so many pizzas or get stick lifted from behind as the last man back in my life. It's honestly shocking. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion but personally I think we need to move this guy regardless of our depth on LD. He's a goddamn tire fire.

If his name was Mathieu or Mathesov hed be public enemy #1.

 

[Miller Time]

If he extends in Montreal, it would be a contract reflecting the fact he would be the 3rd LD on the depth chart.. I don't think he's going to take less money to do that, nor take that small of an opportunity.

He will be an own rental or traded.

Seems like the most likely outcome.

 

[Miller Time]

He is not the type of defensivement you can have playing 20 minutes a night on a contending team.

Again, might want to ground this perception in reality.

It's not hard, take a minute and look at who from the final 4 teams are/did play 20+min.

Then do the same over the last 10 years.

You're in for a surprise

 

[Habs]

Trade him to Chicago, along with whatever they need, to get their first in 2026 or 27 so we can get McKenna or Dupont. Throw in MSL if we have to

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

It actually goes back to him not taking Wright.. of course now, he pretends that he wanted Cooley the entire time.

This is actually so untrue. I was team Slaf all the way, I actually hated how Cooley played in his draft year. Solid lie though.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

If he extends in Montreal, it would be a contract reflecting the fact he would be the 3rd LD on the depth chart.. I don't think he's going to take less money to do that, nor take that small of an opportunity.

He will be an own rental or traded.

I’ll be back here on July 1st when he’s extended, bury your head in the sand but it is the OBVIOUS outcome

 

[dauv]

To me this is how I see things. I hate Matheson as 1LD, I think he is a better than avg 2LD & would be an excellent/luxury 3LD. I don't like him playing on the right side

We have Hutson, and Ghule both LD's who I also don't like playing on he right side

Obviously I prefer Hutson and Ghule to Matheson. Having say 9-10M Hutson + 5.55M Ghule + 4.875 Matheson seems like a lot of money distributed to the LD

So I would definitely trade Matheson to plug holes elsewhere in the line up. 2c, 3c, rd.

The only way this changes would be if someone offers me a can't refuse package for GHULE for a 2c or top 4rd

My 2 cents

 

[Tyson]

To me this is how I see things. I hate Matheson as 1LD, I think he is a decent 2LD & would be an excellent/luxury 3LD. Don't like him playing on the right

We have Hutson, and Ghule both LD's who I also don't like playing not he right side

Obviously I prefer Hutson and Ghule to Matheson. Having say 9-10M Hutson + 5.55M Ghule + 4.875 Matheson seems like a lot of money distributed to the LD

So I would definitely trade Matheson to plug holes elsewhere in the line up. 2c, 3c, rd.

My 2 cents

I don't dislike Matheson but the Habs have a plethora of young LD with two in Guhle and Hutson already taking up the top 2 spots.
I hope Hughes does not extend him and even looks to trade him this summer.

 

[Deebs]

To me this is how I see things. I hate Matheson as 1LD, I think he is a better than avg 2LD & would be an excellent/luxury 3LD. I don't like him playing on the right side

We have Hutson, and Ghule both LD's who I also don't like playing not he right side

Obviously I prefer Hutson and Ghule to Matheson. Having say 9-10M Hutson + 5.55M Ghule + 4.875 Matheson seems like a lot of money distributed to the LD

So I would definitely trade Matheson to plug holes elsewhere in the line up. 2c, 3c, rd.

The only way this changes would be if someone offers me a can't refuse package for GHULE for a 2c or top 4rd

My 2 cents

If we could trade Matty for his equivalent but as a RD, that would be an excellent trade for us. What team has an extra 2nd pairing type RD laying around though? We don't need anything fancy, just a solid, predictable player for one of Lane or Kaiden to play with.

 

[koivalev]

What you are doing is targeting flaws of a player and getting obsessed at it to a point where it's all you look for. "The next mistake".

Matheson deserves credit for his improvement and hard work. Habs were playing him too much before Hutson came and I think you are overlooking high usage with Matheson which lead to him being more exposed.

Team Canada had him on their list bud. Are they idiots? Or are they noticing the improvement in his game and that rare skating ability? Think about it more.

Players should be allowed to improve and our Habs fan base did this exact same treatment towards Danault.

The team that lost to Denmark? Or the organization that brought their B team to the World Juniors?

And difference is that Danault was playing those minutes and dominating them analytically. Matheson is playing those minutes and getting shelled.

~40% xGF% at 5 on 5 after the 4 nations, we are not gonna miss him once he's gone. Great skater and seemingly nice guy though.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

To me this is how I see things. I hate Matheson as 1LD, I think he is a better than avg 2LD & would be an excellent/luxury 3LD. I don't like him playing on the right side

We have Hutson, and Ghule both LD's who I also don't like playing not he right side

Obviously I prefer Hutson and Ghule to Matheson. Having say 9-10M Hutson + 5.55M Ghule + 4.875 Matheson seems like a lot of money distributed to the LD

So I would definitely trade Matheson to plug holes elsewhere in the line up. 2c, 3c, rd.

The only way this changes would be if someone offers me a can't refuse package for GHULE for a 2c or top 4rd

My 2 cents

This is a solid breakdown, and I agree this is what we should do. Positionally and logistically everything you say makes sense.

We have to consider the X-factors in a Matheson trade though. He has a great relationship with Hughes, so you have to assume if he’s traded it will only be to a situation beneficial to him (location, extension), but that their preference is obviously to stay together.

Now, if he is traded, it has to be for a direct upgrade on the roster, otherwise it will kill the team’s morale. He is clearly one of the leaders on the team, for better or worse. We can’t move him for futures or prospects because that sends the wrong message, and it will be a bad look if we move him just to regress and continue to have terrible defense.

Now with these parameters limiting his potential suitors, we have to find a team that actually wants to acquire Matheson and is actually willing to trade a NHL level C or RD to do it, which is unlikely.

Because a great trade looks like it will be really hard to find, you have to assume they will just extend him to avoid any unnecessary drama during the year, and a 4-5 year extension is much more justifiable to the public than trading him for futures

 

[Mrb1p]

The team that lost to Denmark? Or the organization that brought their B team to the World Juniors?

And difference is that Danault was playing those minutes and dominating them analytically. Matheson is playing those minutes and getting shelled.

~40% xGF% at 5 on 5 after the 4 nations, we are not gonna miss him once he's gone. Great skater and seemingly nice guy though.

I'd take Danault as 1C twenty fives times before I'd take Matheson in any part of a roster.

Thats how terrible Matheson is.

 

[Habs]

This is actually so untrue. I was team Slaf all the way, I actually hated how Cooley played in his draft year. Solid lie though.

He gets very upset and goes on odd tangents, he takes the board very personally.

 

[Redux91]

Keeping sooooo many receipts lol

The Matheson fans are in for a hell of a rude awakening

 

[Mrb1p]

Keeping sooooo many receipts lol

The Matheson fans are in for a hell of a rude awakening

The rude awakening being him sucking again for us next year?

*leans in for a conforting hug*

 

[Redux91]

The rude awakening being him sucking again for us next year?

*leans in for a conforting hug*

Still holding out hope he is traded this summer

But worst case scenario he is dealt at next years deadline which I'll tolerate I GUESS
(The actual worst case scenario is an extension, but that is simply just not happening, Gorton knows.)

 

[26Mats]

I don't mean to bully the guy but I honestly have no idea how he gets a pass from some Habs fans. I've never seen an NHLer throw so many pizzas or get stick lifted from behind as the last man back in my life. It's honestly shocking. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion but personally I think we need to move this guy regardless of our depth on LD. He's a goddamn tire fire.

It's not only some Habs fans that disagree with you, apparently so does MSL and the coaching staff.

 

[Favster]

It's not only some Habs fans that disagree with you, apparently so does MSL and the coaching staff.

My point has always been that if I was running a contending team, I would not want a dman as risky and unpredictable as Matheson playing in my top 4. Habs are not a contending team yet and have tons of young guys on the back end, I understand why St Louis wants to rely on a guy with more experience even though I don't agree. I just don't think the situation will be the same in 2-3 seasons which is why don't think they should extend him.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

My point has always been that if I was running a contending team, I would not want a dman as risky and unpredictable as Matheson playing in my top 4. Habs are not a contending team yet and have tons of young guys on the back end, I understand why St Louis wants to rely on a guy with more experience even though I don't agree. I just don't think the situation will be the same in 2-3 seasons which is why don't think they should extend him.

So no Bouchard then?

 

[Favster]

So no Bouchard then?

Bouchard has probably the best point shot in the league. Matheson hits pads 98% of the time. They aren't comparable at all.

It's OK though, we don't have to agree. I'm just not a fan of the player, you guys are allowed to like him lol.