Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson finds himself at a career crossroads as he approaches the final season of his current contract. The veteran blue-liner is significantly outperforming his current salary, setting the stage for crucial extension negotiations with general manager Kent Hughes.
Matheson's Rising Value and Contract Projections
Matheson is completing the final year of an eight-year, $39 million contract originally signed with the Florida Panthers. His current cap hit sits at $4.875 million, a figure that substantially undervalues his contributions to the team. Based on internal comparables within the Canadiens organization, Matheson could command approximately $9 million annually on his next deal.
This projected salary would place him slightly below defense partner Noah Dobson, who earns $9.5 million, and just above Lane Hutson's starting salary of $8.85 million next season. Despite Dobson taking over power-play duties this season, Matheson continues to lead the team in ice time for the third consecutive year, averaging over 25 minutes per game.
Matheson consistently faces opponents' top lines while logging significant penalty-kill minutes, demonstrating his value extends far beyond offensive production. The 31-year-old defenseman will turn 32 when his new contract begins, raising questions about optimal term length.
The Term Dilemma and Historical Context
While a four-year agreement appears reasonable, former Canadiens GM André Savard's wisdom about inevitably including one problematic year in any long-term deal remains relevant. A five-year contract would take Matheson to age 37, an advanced age in hockey terms.
The current NHL landscape features only six players aged 38 or older, with 40-year-old Brent Burns standing as the lone defenseman in that group. Despite the age concerns, Matheson's consistent performance and durability suggest a five-year, $9 million per season contract represents fair value for both player and team.
Revisiting the Blues Trade: From Steal to Heist
The trade that sent Zachary Bolduc to Montreal in exchange for Logan Mailloux has evolved from appearing lopsided to potentially historic in its imbalance. While Bolduc establishes himself as a reliable top-six forward, Mailloux's struggles in St. Louis culminated in a demotion to the American Hockey League.
Mailloux failed to record a single point through nine games while posting a concerning minus-12 rating, living up to his reputation as defensive liability. The offensive defenseman found himself as a healthy scratch for seven contests before the Blues organization decided he needed development time in the minors.
Though St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong characterized the move as temporary, Mailloux's performance suggests he may become what many scouts feared—one of former Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin's final miscalculations, destined for a career primarily in the minor leagues.
Prospect Development and International Hockey
Elsewhere in the Canadiens system, 2024 first-round pick Michael Hage continues his development at the University of Michigan, though not in his expected position. Despite ranking among NCAA scoring leaders with 8 goals and 17 points through 12 games, coach Brandon Naurato moved Hage from center to right wing.
The position change addresses Hage's defensive challenges and faceoff deficiencies, where he succeeds at just 45.8 percent compared to new linemate T.J. Hughes's 61.5 percent rate. Michigan's program boasts 13 NHL-drafted players who should benefit from recent hiring of former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty as special assistant to the coach.
In international women's hockey, Canada's recent 4-1 and 6-1 losses to the United States in the Rivalry Series provide little concern for Olympic preparation. The Americans deployed top goaltenders Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips while Canada tested youngsters Kayle Osborne and Ève Gascon. Olympic gold medalists Ann-Renée Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer will return for February's series conclusion in Edmonton.
The NHL's global expansion possibilities gained attention with the league opening a Zurich office. European regular-season games continue with Pittsburgh and Nashville competing in Sweden, while the NFL plans to expand international games and the NBA considers a 16-team European league launching as early as 2027.
