The Montreal Canadiens sign move a top defenseman following their acquisition of Noah Dobson, according to a league insider.
Montreal pulled off a major sign-and-trade deal to land Dobson from the New York Islanders. Following the move, defenseman Mike Matheson may now be available on the trade market.
According to RG.com’s Marco D’Amico, the Edmonton Oilers are among the teams interested in acquiring Matheson.
“The Oilers have made their desire to upgrade the blue line clear. Sources confirm they’ve shown interest in Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson,” D’Amico reported. “They see his skating and puck-moving ability as a good fit with their fast-paced offense led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He’s definitely a name to watch as Edmonton looks to bolster its defense.”
Matheson, 31, is entering the final year of his eight-year, $39 million contract. With Dobson now in the fold, Matheson’s role on the Canadiens’ back end may diminish, making him a potential trade piece.
A Quebec native, Matheson played 80 games last season, tallying six goals and 25 assists for 31 points. He added one assist in five playoff appearances.
Hughes Lauds Dobson’s Commitment
Dobson signed an eight-year extension with Montreal after being acquired from the Islanders. His contract reportedly comes in at under $10 million annually, which caught some by surprise.
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes praised Dobson for accepting a team-friendly deal in order to help the club build a Stanley Cup contender.
“It’s huge that he was willing to do that,” Hughes said on June 27. “Noah and his camp emphasized the importance of the team showing progress. He believes in the direction we’re headed and wants to grow with this group and be part of something special.”
Dobson recorded 10 goals and 29 assists in 71 games last season. The year before, he racked up 70 points (10 goals, 60 assists) in 79 games.
Canadiens Still Looking to Improve
After reaching the playoffs as the youngest team in the league, Montreal is aiming to take another step forward. Hughes says he’ll explore both trades and free agency to further upgrade the roster.
“We’re going to keep looking for ways to improve our forward group, whether that’s through trades or free-agent signings,” Hughes said. “I can’t say for sure that we’ll get something done, but we’re definitely going to try.”
Adding Dobson is part of a bigger plan, as Hughes believes having several high-end puck-moving defensemen is critical.
“Once everything falls into place, we expect to have more puck movers throughout the lineup,” Hughes added.
Aside from Dobson’s addition, the Canadiens may have a relatively quiet offseason.
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