An end of one type or another is near for Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson. Some say that should be regarding his Habs tenure in that they should deal the 30-year-old when his stock is as high as it is, after he hit a career-high 11 goals and 51 assists (62 points). And there is some justification behind that school of thought, especially with the blue line as crowded as it is on his left side.
Even if the Canadiens don’t make room though, part of the argument stems from the opinion Matheson’s stock can’t get any higher. Anyone suggesting he can or flat out expects him to would be guilty of setting unrealistic goals for him for 2024-25. After all, you’re talking about literally one of the most prolific seasons put together by a Habs defenseman this century. Asking any more out of the guy would be crazy. In that sense, while he may not be one of the likeliest players to regress, he won’t be making this latest list of the likeliest Habs coming off career years to hit another gear, either.
Related: Canadiens with Career Years Who Can Hit Another Gear
Now, as for whether or not it’s the best time to trade the guy, it’s hard to say. However, even if he doesn’t reach new career highs all over again, Matheson can still provide a lot of value to the team over the next two seasons at an incredibly cost-effective $4.875 million cap hit. It becomes more a question of how much value do the Canadiens place on his production, leadership by example and leadership in general compared to the increase in ice time his departure would yield for the team’s next generation, players of whom the aforementioned 2024-25 list almost exclusively comprises.
5. Nick Suzuki
Now, Matheson can obviously prove the analysts wrong. However, someone like Nick Suzuki is simply more likely to, by posting career highs (again). It’s all he’s ever done… get better every year. True, the better he gets, the unlikelier it becomes that he’ll continue the trend, and, having just scored 33 goals and 77 points, he’s getting up there as an undeniably legitimate No. 1 centre.
That having been said, with his linemates just arguably having scratched the surface of their potential… Well, let’s just say no one should be closing the book on Suzuki’s production continuing to climb. Look at it this way: If a 35-year-old Alex Kovalev can hit a point per game for the Canadiens in 2007-08 with a lesser supporting cast, a 25-year-old…
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