MONTREAL — As the Montreal Canadiens navigate another rebuilding season, questions about veteran defenseman Mike Matheson's future with the team are coming to the forefront. With Matheson entering the final year of his current contract, negotiations for an extension are underway, highlighting his pivotal role on the blue line despite the team's ongoing youth movement.
Matheson, a 31-year-old defenseman, is in the last season of an eight-year, US$39-million deal originally signed with the Florida Panthers in 2016. His current cap hit stands at US$4.875 million, a figure that industry observers say undervalues his contributions. According to longtime hockey columnist Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette, Matheson is 'clearly underpaid,' and comparable contracts suggest he could command a US$9 million annual cap hit in his next deal.
Hickey points to internal benchmarks within the Canadiens' organization, noting that Matheson's potential salary would be slightly less than that of his defense partner Noah Dobson, who earns US$9.5 million, and just above the US$8.85 million starting figure for young blueliner Lane Hutson next season. 'Keeping the comparables to an internal pay scale, Matheson is looking at a US$9 million cap hit,' Hickey wrote.
Despite expectations that Dobson would take over primary power-play duties upon joining the team in the offseason, Matheson has shouldered a heavy workload for the third straight season. He leads the Canadiens in ice time, averaging more than 25 minutes per game — minutes that include matchups against opponents' top lines and extensive penalty-kill responsibilities. This durability has made him indispensable, even as the team integrates younger talent.
Discussions around the length of Matheson's next contract center on a four-year term, though Hickey references advice from former Canadiens general manager André Savard, who once remarked, 'You always end up giving a player one year that won’t work out.' At 32 when a new deal would begin, a five-year extension would carry Matheson to age 37, an advanced age in the NHL. Currently, only six players league-wide are 38 or older, with the oldest defenseman being 40-year-old Brent Burns of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Hickey advocates for a straightforward five-year, US$9 million per season pact, quipping in the style of comedian Larry the Cable Guy, 'Git-R-Done.' Matheson's agent, Kent Hughes, now serves as the Canadiens' general manager, adding an interesting dynamic to the negotiations as the two sides hash out terms across the table.
Beyond contract talks, the Canadiens' front office continues to reap benefits from past trades, none more lopsided than the 2022 deal that sent prospect Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Zachary Bolduc. What was once viewed as a steal for Montreal has evolved into what Hickey calls 'the heist of the decade.'
Bolduc, a 2021 third-round pick, has quickly established himself as a top-six forward for the Canadiens, showing poise and skill in limited NHL action this season. In contrast, Mailloux's tenure in St. Louis has been marred by struggles. The offensive-minded defenseman, acquired as part of the package that brought veteran forward Ryan O'Reilly to Montreal, failed to record a point in nine NHL games while posting a minus-12 rating, living up to his reputation as a defensive liability.
Mailloux was a healthy scratch for seven games before being demoted to the American Hockey League's Springfield Thunderbirds. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong described the assignment as 'temporary,' but Hickey speculates that Mailloux, one of the final acquisitions under former Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin, may be headed for a career in the minors. 'I suspect Mailloux ... is destined to be a career minor-leaguer,' Hickey wrote.
The trade's success underscores the shrewd decision-making of Hughes since taking over in 2022, as Montreal prioritizes high-upside forwards amid a rebuild. Bolduc's emergence provides depth and scoring potential, addressing a key need for the Canadiens, who sit near the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings early in the 2024-25 season.
Looking toward the future, the Canadiens' prospect pool remains a source of optimism, though not without adjustments. First-round draft pick Michael Hage, selected 21st overall in 2024, has been thriving at the University of Michigan but recently shifted from center to right wing by coach Brandon Naurato. Hage, one of the top scorers in the NCAA with eight goals and 17 points in 12 games as of late October, struggled with the defensive demands of the pivot position.
'Naurato felt the youngster had difficulty handling the defensive responsibility that comes with playing centre,' Hickey reported. Hage's faceoff success rate hovers at 45.8 percent, compared to 61.5 percent for his new linemate, T.J. Hughes, who now centers Michigan's top line alongside Will Horcoff and Hage. Despite the positional change, Hage's offensive flair keeps him penciled in as a potential second-line center for Montreal down the road.
Michigan's program has a strong track record of developing NHL talent, with 13 current Wolverines drafted by league clubs. The recent hiring of former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty as a special assistant to Naurato adds intrigue; Pacioretty played one season at Michigan and was a teammate of the coach before turning pro.
On the international stage, women's hockey is heating up as Canada and the United States prepare for their Olympic showdown in February 2026. The U.S. dominated the early games of the Rivalry Series, winning 4-1 and 6-1, but Hickey cautions against overreaction. The Americans deployed their top goaltenders, Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips, while Canada relied on young netminders Kayle Osborne and Ève Gascon.
Olympic gold medalists Ann-Renée Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer sat out the losses but are expected to anchor the Canadian crease when the series wraps up with two games in Edmonton next month. 'There’s no reason to panic as the teams gear up for their Olympics showdown in February,' Hickey noted, emphasizing the depth on both sides.
Meanwhile, the NHL is eyeing growth beyond North America. The league recently opened an office in Zurich, Switzerland, fueling speculation about European expansion. Regular-season games continue to draw crowds overseas, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators set to play in Sweden this weekend.
European television broadcasts of NHL action are increasingly popular, and the league isn't alone in its ambitions. The NFL plans to expand its international regular-season games from seven to 16, requiring each team to play one abroad. The NBA is exploring a 16-team branded league starting as early as 2027, with potential host cities including London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Berlin, Munich, Athens, and Istanbul.
For the Canadiens, these developments could mean more global opportunities for their young stars like Hage and Bolduc. As contract talks with Matheson progress and prospects mature, Montreal's front office appears poised to build a competitive roster. Fans will watch closely as the team balances veteran leadership with emerging talent in the seasons ahead.