Quebec defender Mike Matheson has been named assistant to captain Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced Monday morning.
The decision was made by the hockey management of the Habs, it was specified. The management and the players of the Canadian met this morning in Laval-sur-le-Lac on the occasion of the traditional golf tournament of the Canadian.
The team added that veteran Brendan Gallagher will retain his title of assistant captain.
The 29-year-old Matheson led the team with 34 points (8-26) in 48 games last season. The six-foot-two, 195-pound defenseman also set NHL career highs in assists (26), points (34), power-play points (9) and average playing time per match (24:27).
In eight seasons in the NHL, the player from Pointe-Claire has totaled 172 points (57-115) in 465 games played with the Florida Panthers, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Canadiens.
Matheson, who was selected in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Panthers in the 2012 NHL Draft, was acquired from the Penguins along with a draft pick for defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Ryan Poehling on July 16, 2022.
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