September 16, 2025 | 12:20pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

MATHESON WANTS TO STAY; HABS WANT TO ADD

Mike Matheson, defenceman

On Monday, veteran defenceman Mike Matheson voiced his desire to stay in Montreal beyond this season and contract talks between the Canadiens and his agent are believed to be ongoing.

Matheson, 31, is in the final year of an eight-year, $39 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Speaking with “La Poche Bleue Podcast” with Maxim Lapierre and Pascal Leclaire at the club’s annual charity golf tournament yesterday, the Montreal native reiterated his preference to sign an extension with the club.

“I’d like to stay here as long as possible,” he said in French. “I’m letting my agent handle things.”

It is unclear as to the type of contract Matheson is looking for, but a multi-year deal would result in a raise over his current $4.875 million AAV.

Matheson tallied six goals and 25 assists for 31 points in 80 games with the Canadiens last season after putting up 62 points in 2023-24.

Meanwhile, Canadiens Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton and General Manager Kent Hughes both indicated on Monday that they are still looking to improve their club this season and are open to making another move to acquire another top-six forward.

“We’re always open to adding, it’s pretty well documented that we went into the summer trying to improve our skill level, to try to add to our core, I think we were able to do some of that, but we’re always going to look to get better,” Gorton said, as quoted by TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde. “We’ll see what could be out there, but more encouraged in the now and how camp is going to go.”

The Canadiens have just over $4.56 million in salary cap space, and can create more depending on who is sent down to the minors by the start of the year, which will give Hughes flexibility to add a pricier forward this season.

“Ultimately, we don’t feel like we’re done building our hockey team,” Hughes told reporters. “But, we’re in that phase or sequence where we’re constructing a hockey team. Our priority isn’t just being as efficient as we can in terms of our asset management. If we have to overpay to do something to get a specific player who we think is important to the future of our team, then we’ll do it.”