Furthermore, as seen on HabsolumentFans, journalist Mathias Brunet recently raised the possibility of getting rid of Michael Matheson, if an interesting opportunity presents itself to Habs general manager Kent Hughes.
For Mathias Brunet, it's not about liquidating the team at all costs, but rather adjusting to a season that unfortunately already seems compromised for Martin St-Louis' men.
With the Habs ranked 29th in the NHL, the idea of "competing for a playoff spot" is no longer really an option.
According to Mathias Brunet, if the Canadiens' general manager received an offer including a first-round pick and a quality prospect to replace Mike Matheson, it would be really difficult to refuse such a return for his veteran.
Mike Matheson is only 30 years old, he has been a pillar of the Montreal defense since his acquisition from the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had an excellent season last year with an impressive 62 points in 82 games, he has 12 points in 18 games this season.
Matheson's contract is worth $4.875 million per season and is still valid for two years, until 2025-2026, which could make his acquisition attractive for a team looking to improve its defensive brigade in view of the playoffs.
If such an offer were to come to the table, it would be interesting to see if Kent Hughes would be willing to sacrifice a player like Matheson to accumulate picks and prospects in order to continue the rebuilding process.
In your opinion, should the Montreal Canadiens trade Mike Matheson?