Mike Matheson has emerged as a cornerstone for the Montreal Canadiens, embodying resilience, adaptability, and leadership under the guidance of head coach Martin St-Louis and defense coach Stéphane Robidas. Despite facing criticism from fans, Matheson’s commitment to the team’s success remains unwavering.
Elevated Responsibilities and Ice Time
In the 2024-25 season, Matheson has been entrusted with significant responsibilities, averaging 24:58 minutes per game, ranking 10th in the NHL for ice time. Following Kaiden Guhle’s injury, his average increased to 25:59 per game, second only to Zach Werenski. This substantial ice time underscores the coaching staff’s confidence in his abilities.
Role Adjustments and Defensive Focus
The coaching staff implemented strategic changes to optimize Matheson’s performance. He transitioned from the first to the second power-play unit, allowing emerging talents like Lane Hutson to take on more prominent roles. Additionally, Matheson’s penalty-kill time increased, reflecting a shift towards a more defensively oriented role. These adjustments contributed to a +16 improvement in his plus-minus rating, indicating enhanced defensive awareness.
Navigating Positional Challenges
Demonstrating versatility, Matheson played on his off side as a left-handed defenseman, a challenging task that he embraced without complaint. Coach Robidas acknowledged the complexities of this adjustment, emphasizing Matheson’s exceptional skills and adaptability. This strategic move aimed to simplify the game for Guhle, allowing both players to excel in their respective roles.
Leadership Amidst Criticism
Despite facing social media criticism, Matheson’s leadership and dedication have been lauded by teammates and coaches. Captain Nick Suzuki highlighted Matheson’s role in handling the toughest assignments, while Coach St-Louis praised his competitiveness and professionalism, underscoring his value to the team.
Statistical Overview
A comparison of Matheson’s performance over two seasons illustrates the impact of his adjusted role:
|
Season |
PTS/GP |
TOI/GP |
PP TOI/GP |
PK TOI/GP |
+/- |
SAT% |
USAT% |
|
2024-25 |
0.46 |
24:58 |
2:10 |
3:16 |
-8 |
48.6 |
49.3 |
|
2023-24 |
0.76 |
25:33 |
3:41 |
2:59 |
-24 |
42.9 |
44.8 |
|
Diff |
-0.30 |
-0:35 |
-1:31 |
+0:17 |
+16 |
+5.7 |
+4.5 |
The data reflects a deliberate shift towards defensive responsibilities, with reduced offensive output offset by improved defensive metrics.
Conclusion
Mike Matheson’s utilization by the Montreal Canadiens exemplifies strategic adaptation and leadership. His willingness to embrace challenging roles, coupled with the coaching staff’s tactical adjustments, has fortified the team’s defensive core. As the season progresses, Matheson’s experience and resilience will continue to be invaluable assets to the Canadiens.
Of course, this will not change the fact that upon Guhle’s return to play, there will be an imbalance between the number of left-handed to right-handed defensemen, an issue that General Manager Kent Hughes will have to seriously consider during the upcoming off-season. And considering his affordable contract and trade value, and the resurgence of Guhle and Hutson, Matheson could very well fetch a small fortune in return… much more than the price paid to acquire him in Jeff Petry.
