Mike Matheson does not know where he will play in a year, but if he was held only to him, it was here that he would like to continue his career.
According to what was allowed to learn, the Quebec defender had discussions with the Canadian management about a new contract, discussions that are not recent, however. His this contract, signed while he was a member of the Florida Panthers, will expire at the end of the next season. This is an average of $ 4.8 million on average per year.
At 31, the experienced defender does not want to move his penates, obviously.
“We have no control about it,” said his agent Philippe Lecavalier in an interview. Mike has control over what he can control, if he would like to be able to stay in Montreal, and the answer is yes. He also controls his performance, the way he is able to play with his team. He is a guy who is extremely careful with him. He closely monitors his diet, his training, everything he has to do. »»
He pays attention to him because he wants to play hockey as long as possible.
Philippe Lecavalier, agent of Mike Matheson
For the time being, and after the transaction of the Carey Price contract to the San Jose Sharks, the Canadian finds himself with a space of some $ 4.5 million under the salary ceiling, according to the specialized Puckpedia site. In addition to Matheson, only one player of the last season could become a independent player without compensation at the end of the next campaign, the Patrik Laine striker.
A similar role
With a training camp looming on the horizon – its opening is scheduled for September 17 at the Brossard training center – it is allowed to believe that Matheson’s role with the club will not be so different from the role he had in the previous season.
The arrival of Noah Dobson in the role of defender of the first duo is no doubt at the moment, but then, the group of defenders should be the same as in 2024-2025, with Kaidai Guhle, Lane Hutson, and Alexandre Carrier. Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj should fight for the last two available positions, those of sixth and seventh defender, and the two players will have to be submitted to the ballotting if they were returned to the Laval Rocket, in the American League.
The Canadian also founded very great hopes on David Reinbacher, 20, the first choice of the club at the 2023 draft, and also a leading hope at the blue line. But the Austrian defender will undoubtedly have to go find his pace and his bearings in the American League in Laval, since he only took part in 10 games last season due to a knee injury. Reinbacher recently suggested that he was completely recovered from this injury.
It remains to be seen what all this will mean for Matheson and his immediate future with the Canadian. The defender concluded the last season with an average of 25 min 5 s in the chapter of playing time per match, the highest average among all Canadian players. Matheson had also been the player most often used by coach Martin St-Louis in the previous season, that of 2023-2024, when he had concluded the calendar by passing an average of 25 min 33 s on the ice with each meeting.
It was during this season that he had the best offensive production of his career, with a 62 -point harvest in 82 games. Last season, this production fell in half, among others after it lost its post for the benefit of Lane Hutson on the first unit in digital advantage. He concluded the last season with a total of 31 points in 80 games.
