Ranking the Contenders to Sign Acquire Matheson This Offseason

Montreal’s Bell Centre - Source: Unsplash

Special to PuckPedia

The winds of change are swirling over Montreal, and their turbulence centers on Mike Matheson. Now entering the last year of his contract, the 31-year-old defenseman's future isn’t just fodder for offseason speculation—it’s a potential catalyst for a league-wide power shift. 

The Canadiens, rich in emerging blue line talent with Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Noah Dobson, and David Reinbacher, have all but signaled that their timeline no longer depends on their veteran defender. Add in the reality of salary cap constraints—Montreal is around $5.4m over the line—and the narrative is clear: the front office has issued a stark ultimatum. Re-sign for the right price, or expect to be shipped out before the season dawns.

This crossroads is emblematic of the business side of modern hockey. Matheson, whose blend of fluid skating and on-ice intelligence places him among the league's most reliable top-four defensemen, would be one of the market’s most tantalizing trade chips. The stakes? Nothing short of a change in franchise fortunes. But which organizations are best positioned to pounce? 

Detroit Red Wings

Restless. Ambitious. On the verge. Detroit’s name surfaces earlier and more frequently than most in league insiders’ conversations—and it’s not hard to see why. The Red Wings feel like a franchise on the cusp, even if the NHL odds providers think otherwise. The latest NHL odds currently price the Motor City side as a +250 outsider to end their decade-long postseason drought next season, but adding Matheson could certainly see those odds slashed dramatically. 

Last season’s campaign flirted with playoff relevance before unraveling due to defensive frailty: Detroit finished in the bottom half of the league in goals against (251 allowed), and their -9 goal differential underscored glaring depth issues outside star Moritz Seider.

Why Matheson? Few veterans embody the perfect hybrid of transition game and locker room gravitas. He racked up 62 points last term—second among Canadiens defensemen in the last two decades—and averaged more than 25 minutes of ice time per contest. He would instantly mentor Seider, stabilize the second pair, and inject transition prowess that can flip the ice in an instant.

From Matheson’s point of view, Detroit is compelling. The team’s young core—Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, and Seider—has matured rapidly, and the Red Wings’ trajectory suggests that their prolonged rebuild may be on its final lap. The 31-year-old could join a group ready to surprise, play major minutes, and chase playoff relevance without a full market spotlight. In sheer hockey terms, the fit is seamless, and the impact could be dramatic, culminating with the snapping of the second-longest postseason drought in the entire NHL. 

Dallas Stars

If proximity to Stanley Cup contention is the measuring stick, the Dallas Stars vault near the top of any plausible list for Matheson's signature. This is an organization all-in on winning now, fortified by elite scoring—the Stars outscored opponents by 60 last season, a mark that dwarfed most Western rivals. Yet behind Miro Heiskanen, their defensive core is thinner than their forward lines, and postseason breakdowns revealed their need for another high-end left-shot defender, especially one who can drive play and take power-play minutes.

Enter Matheson. His dynamic skating, double-digit goal scoring, and track record of logging shutdown assignments make him a tactical fit beside Heiskanen or as a lethal second-pair driver. Head coach Peter DeBoer’s penchant for fluid, aggressive matchups would only be enhanced by Matheson’s versatility. The stats underscore Dallas’ struggle in clearing their own zone in pressure moments—an area Matheson excels.

The pitch to Matheson is compelling: immediate Stanley Cup aspirations, a chance to be an essential piece instead of just a reinforcement, and an environment where his skill set isn't buried behind younger prospects. The Stars are a move or two away, and Matheson is the logical, high-upside maneuver that could make the difference between another deep run and raising the championship for the first time this side of the millennium.

Vancouver Canucks

Intriguing. Risky. Potentially transformative. Vancouver is that perennial enigma—a team blessed with cornerstone talent in Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson, yet so often undermined by inconsistent blue line play. Last season, only one Canuck defenseman outside Hughes posted more than 30 points, and the team’s shot suppression metrics ranked in the league’s bottom third. 

Matheson’s acquisition wouldn’t just be a patch; it would be a statement of intent. His league-leading minutes, crisp first passes, and willingness to join the rush offer the kind of modern defense Vancouver seeks. He’d balance Hughes’ offensive inclination, relieve workload strain, and accelerate the transition game vital for Bruce Boudreau’s high-tempo offensive system.

But does the city, wracked by expectation and history, make sense for Matheson? The Canucks have swung big before and missed, but this version feels different—more mature, better built, and hungry for validation. For Matheson, the question is about market pressure versus hockey opportunity. Should he bet on Vancouver’s upside, and if so, can he be the anchor that transforms promise into playoff certainty?