Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Mike Matheson’s contract choice is surprising, because accepting five years at a lower price mostly shows that he wanted stability, family, and to stay at the center of the Canadiens’ long-term plan.
This decision says a lot about his personal and professional priorities. His agent even revealed that money wasn’t the core of the discussion. That’s really fun to hear.
He explained that Matheson mainly wanted to stay in Montreal, keep his bearings, and enjoy a stable life surrounded by his loved ones.
“He’s not the kind of guy who wants to bounce around from place to place or who absolutely wants the biggest contract. He has no ego; he doesn’t care about making more than someone else.
He could have gone elsewhere, but would he have been happy? He would’ve just checked the ‘money’ box.
In Montreal, he checks all the boxes.”
– Matheson’s agent
A sentence that perfectly captures his mindset. On the ice, there’s no doubt that Matheson remains a crucial pillar. He plays big minutes in all situations and is a big part of the penalty kill.
Behind the scenes, many also see this move as a clear signal that he wants to be a guiding presence in this growing locker room.
Matheson stabilizes the Canadiens’ blue line with a clear commitment
For the Montreal Canadiens, getting a defenseman of this caliber at this price for such a long period is a real bargain, in my opinion. It’s a very controlled bet that strengthens the blue line and helps the young defensive group develop.
From my point of view, keeping a reliable veteran like Matheson was essential to avoid having a defense that becomes too young too quickly.
His decision shows that a player can still choose stability instead of chasing the money. In a market as intense as Montreal, that means something.
“There isn’t much competition on the market for unrestricted free agents.
We know we could have blown the bank. However, it was too risky a gamble for him to play anywhere other than Montreal, especially if we were able to reach an agreement that made sense for him financially.”
– Matheson’s agent
I really believe this contract will help the Canadiens move forward more calmly.
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Matheson’s agent reveals why he left money on the table to re-sign with the Canadiens at a bargain
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