The Montreal Canadiens are expected to move on from a veteran defenseman after this season.
The Canadiens added Noah Dobson to bolster their blue line this offseason, which could mean the team moves on from another defenseman. NHL insider Rob Couch of NHLTradeRumors expects the Canadiens to move on from Mike Matheson.
“There is a reality where the Montreal Canadiens don’t bring back Mike Matheson after the final year of his deal. He isn’t the only veteran on the team with Alexandre Carrier playing on one of the bottom two pairs. And top-4 roles can easily be given to Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Kaiden Guhle, and Carrier/David Reinbacher the following season,” Couch wrote.
Couch doesn’t expect Montreal to trade Matheson this season, as the Canadiens are looking to compete for the Stanley Cup this season. Instead, Couch expects Montreal to use Matheson as their own rental and let him depart in free agency next summer.
Matheson is entering the final year of his eight-year, $39 million deal with the Canadiens. He recorded 6 goals and 25 assists for 31 points in 80 games last season. But, with Montreal having some young defenseman coming into the system, his time with the team could be over.
Insider: Canadiens Would be Better Off Without Matheson
Although Matheson has been an impactful defenseman for the Canadiens, Couch believes it would be wise for the team to let him walk in free agency.
Montreal has plenty of young defenseman to build around, and Couch believes the Canadiens would be better off using that cap space elsewhere.
“The Canadiens aren’t necessarily strapped for cap space,” Couch added. “But freeing up a bit to potentially grab a star at forward or a legitimate second-line center makes more sense for their future than running with five to six defensemen who can and should be playing top-4 minutes… The Canadiens may hurt a little on the penalty kill and need a replacement if Matheson leaves. But I think they will be better off using the cap space elsewhere and not cramming up the defense.”
Matheson has spent the last three seasons with the Canadiens. He’s expected to play on Montreal’s third-line defenseman alongside Alexandre Carrier.
Canadiens Could Move a Defenseman
Montreal has a young defensive core and has a good system coming up.
With that, NHL insider Eric Engels believes Montreal will look to trade a defenseman or two this year.
“Between those three guys, right you have, (Mike) Matheson, (Jayden) Struble, and Xhekaj, there’s a good chance that between now and this time next year, one of those guys is not here,” Engels said on The Sick Podcast. “We talked about the depth lower down; we know (Logan) Mailloux had a hard time getting up. We know David Reinbacher is a big part of the future for the Canadiens. They’re obviously going to look to get him some.
“They’re not just going to force him into the NHL lineup when they don’t have to,” Engels added. “He has to earn that experience. But it’s pretty vital to their plans of becoming a perennial contender that he starts getting some NHL games under his belt.”
Engels believes Montreal wants to find playing time for David Reinbacher. Which will lead to the Canadiens trading a defenseman or two.
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