Canadiens Trade Proposals: Potentially Trading Mike Matheson

Let’s preface this by saying there is no need to trade Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson ahead of the March 8 NHL Trade Deadline.

He’s providing great production, has a fair contract, and is a local guy who loves to play for the Habs. Those are important factors to consider, especially the latter. Players in their prime who want to play in Montreal are few and far between, historically speaking.

Also, it doesn’t appear he is being heavily shopped, as he doesn’t crack the NHL.com top candidate list.

That said, he’s having a career year, and his stock may never be higher. Considering he likely isn’t part of the long-term plans of this team, selling high could be a savvy move by Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes.

This affords the team an opportunity to make a “hockey deal” without retaining salary, something that could be on the horizon as well, this upcoming trade deadline.

One more thing: the Montreal Canadiens have a plethora of left-handed defencemen and will need to make room for Lane Hutson, who is poised to make his NHL debut toward the end of the regular season.

With this in mind, there’s no harm in discussing potential moves, so here are two trade ideas that could yield interesting returns for Matheson.

The Montreal Canadiens Trade Mike Matheson To The New Jersey Devils

To NJD: Mike Matheson
To MTL: Alexander Holtz

It appears Alex Holtz and Lindy Ruff aren’t able to get on the same page, with the former spending lots of time on the team’s fourth line. This type of trade would bank on a decision by the Devils to focus on immediate help in a bid to salvage their season.

With Dougie Hamilton on the Long Term Injured Reserve, the Devils have accrued lots of cap space – but they’re yet to replace his production. Matheson could help them push for a playoff spot, as they currently are just on the outside, looking in, but have the type of talent that can make a healthy push in the playoffs if they do manage to qualify.

Considering 22 of Matheson’s 43 points have come on the powerplay, he could certainly help New Jersey get ahead of the pack as they surprisingly sit in the middle of the league (14th) in powerplay efficiency.

ALEX. HOLTZ. OT. WINNER. pic.twitter.com/LxTCtBCkrT

— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) March 11, 2023

In Holtz, the Montreal Canadiens would be acquiring a sniper who could become Kirby Dach’s triggerman on the second line, in an offensive role.

Could the young, six-foot forward jumpstart his career in Montreal?

At just 22 years old, there’s untapped potential to be discussed. And like many prospects having a hard time finding their footing with the team that drafted them, a fresh start could serve him well.

As it stands, Holtz has 13 goals and 11 assists in 51 games for the Devils. His underlying numbers are far from encouraging, but given his role and his sparse usage, there’s a chance he could re-ignite his scoring touch in Montreal.

The Montreal Canadiens Trade Matheson To The Winnipeg Jets

To WPG: Mike Matheson
To MTL: Rutger McGroarty

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has historically been quiet at the trade deadline. But after acquiring Sean Monahan from the Habs earlier this season, could this be the year he goes all in?

The Jets don’t need help in the backend as one of the top defensive teams in the league, but Matheson’s powerplay prowess could help them along the way – they currently rank 22nd in that department.

Matheson offers them the flexibility to adapt their line-up to an opponent during the playoffs by swapping him and Brendan Dillon. He could also act as an insurance policy in case Josh Morrissey gets injured, which could be the difference between an early exit and the Jets putting their hands on hockey’s Holy Grail.

Rutger McGroarty with a huge hit. pic.twitter.com/P8hnLKLcig

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 5, 2024

With a slew of interesting forward prospects in Lambert, Lucius, Barlow, and Chibrikov, they could afford to part ways with McGroarty, though it should be mentioned the Jets would need to be convinced it’s already time to move on from such a talented forward prospect.

McGroarty is 6’1″, 201 pounds, and has captained Team USA to the gold medal this past World Junior Championship. He has tallied 40 points in 27 contests in the NCAA, so far, for the University of Michigan.

The Habs would be gaining amazing depth in the middle and adding another big body to a core that keeps getting bigger, alongside Slafkovsky and Dach, which is exactly the type of frames Hughes likes to see in his lineup.

Which Montreal Canadiens trade proposal do you prefer? Or do you have a better one? Let us know in the comments below.