Matheson Hopes To Remain With Canadiens, But Does It Make Sense?

The Montreal Canadiens have made some interesting moves on defense over the past year, bringing in Noah Dobson and Alexandre Carrier while moving on from Logan Mailloux. There is still at least David Reinbacher to come from the defensive prospects, but the Canadiens are running out of room and have too much talent. Someone is going to have to move on.

Mike Matheson wants to remain with the Canadiens and David Pagnotta said that Matheson would likely get a raise from his $4.875 million AAV. While three of Montreal's top seven defensemen are on the final year of their deals, Matheson is the only one who is a UFA. Both Lane Hutson and Arber Xhekaj are RFAs and will get new deals.

If anyone is going to leave, it's going to be Matheson unless the team signs him on a shorter term deal at a good price. If he wants to remain with the Canadiens, that's what it should take, but that also may not be the case.

Dobson was brought in with a big contract, Kaiden Guhle is going into the first of a six-year deal at $5.55 million AAV, and Hutson is going to get a big, long-term extension after what he showed he can do and become for the Canadiens. It is never ideal when a defenseman has to play their off side in the top-4, and that's the case for the Canadiens as long as Matheson is on the team. Dobson is the only righty in the top-4, but Carrier is capable, there just isn't any room.

Matheson logs a ton of time on the penalty kill per game and a good amount on the power play. With Hutson and Dobson on the team, Matheson's offensive ability is now suppressed and he's more focused defensively. That is something good to have from a veteran play in the top-6, but sooner or later there are going to be a lot of players highly paid on the Canadiens and there will be even less room for everyone who deserves to play every day, to do so.