The last time Mike Matheson spent more than 25 minutes on the ice in a game was…almost a year ago.
Posted at 12:39 p.m.
In fact, and more specifically, it was November 2021, when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Spending so much time on the ice is not his habit, he who averaged 18:48 playing time in 74 games last season. But that’s what he did at the Bell Center on Monday night.
We understand each other: spending so much time on the ice in the context of a preseason game doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. But it still means this: in Montreal, with the Canadiens, Mike Matheson will have to play a different role.
A more important role, above all.
“It is certain that all this will be new for me, agreed the Quebec defender after Monday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils. When I was traded by the Penguins to the Canadian (in July, in return for Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling), I took a look at the formation of the Canadian. Watching the names of the players go by and seeing the dates of birth, I saw 2001s and even 2004s, like (Juraj) Slafkovsky! I must say that at the time, I started to feel a little old…”
Old at 28, that too will be brand new for him. In seven years in the NHL, at Pittsburgh for two seasons and previously with the Florida Panthers for five seasons, Matheson has never had to play the role of big brother or point guard in any way. . We didn’t expect that from him, because we probably didn’t think it was necessary.
In the Bell Center locker room, it is, of course, another reality. Matheson, from his locker just to the right of the main door, can see the only two veterans of this defense, David Savard and Chris Wideman. Together, these two men played a grand total of 126 games in the jersey of the Canadiens.
That’s why Mike Matheson will have to assume a leadership role soon enough.
“Obviously it wasn’t like that in Pittsburgh,” he admits without hesitation. Coming there, there were guys like Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin who were already there in defense. So it’s definitely not the same thing if we compare it to the situation here. I hope to be able to give a good boost in defense while being able to take on those responsibilities in terms of leadership. It’s up to me to do it and seize the opportunity.
“But it’s not going to change who I am as a player either, and I’m not going to change my style of play. It’s important to help the younger guys, but I have to do it while making sure I maintain my own identity. »
We must insist, once again, on the importance of not leaving in fear following 60 minutes of preparatory work, but at the very least, Mike Matheson displayed qualities on Monday evening that lead us to believe that he could prove to be a nice surprise this season in the Montreal camp.
“Obviously, his skating is top notch,” commented coach Martin St-Louis. He is very involved in the game, he directs traffic well. He’s a leader on the ice and he’s been very good. »
Also, it turns out that this former first-round pick doesn’t hate offering a few good shoulder shots, which suggests that he is also capable of being tough.
Which is good, because that too, the Canadian will probably need it this season.
“Without a doubt, the physical game is an important element in the range of a defender, he agreed. I think I’m going to be asked to play a little more like that here. It suits me without any problem…”