Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report has released his latest NHL Trade Block Big Board for the month of August. Among the 15 players who made Richardson's trade board is Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson.
Seeing Matheson among the players on this trade board is not necessarily surprising, as he has been the subject of trade speculation throughout this off-season. With the Canadiens having several young defensemen and Matheson entering the final year of his contract, there have naturally been questions about his future in Montreal.
Yet, if the Canadiens were to trade Matheson during this off-season, it would undoubtedly come with risk. The 31-year-old is still an important veteran and leader on the Canadiens' blueline, so his absence would be felt if he were to be moved.
In 80 games this past season with the Canadiens, Matheson recorded six goals, 25 assists, and 31 points. This was after the left-shot defenseman scored 11 goals and set career highs with 51 assists and 62 points in 82 games with the Canadiens during the 2023-24 season.
Nevertheless, with Matheson entering next season as a pending UFA, some fans will naturally wonder if the Canadiens could trade him by next year's deadline. Yet, a contract extension would put the trade rumors surrounding Matheson to bed. It will be interesting to see what happens with him from here.
Canadiens Are 2 Moves Away From Perfect Off-SeasonIt has been an excellent off-season for the Montreal Canadiens. They most notably acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson and promising young winger Zack Bolduc in separate trades. They also improved their depth by bringing in Joe Veleno, Sammy Blais, and Kaapo Kahkonen through free agency.
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