One of the Canadiens' Best Players Officially Hit the Trade Block

However, Kent Hughes might have a big surprise in store for the team's fans. Indeed, according to a recent TSN ranking aimed at listing the top 20 players most likely to be traded by the end of the season, the name of defenseman Mike Matheson is notably mentioned. With his promising offensive potential, the 29-year-old defenseman could certainly interest teams looking to go far in the playoffs.

After all, while the defenseman is contributing significantly to the Canadiens' current success, his future in Montreal seems rather uncertain. Knowing that Kaiden Guhle can easily play a role in the first defensive pair, the eventual arrival of Lane Hutson in the lineup could relegate the former Pittsburgh Penguin to the third defensive pair.

Moreover, even though Mike Matheson excels offensively, he isn't a true quarterback on the power play, and theoretically, he should lose his spot when Lane Hutson debuts in the NHL. Furthermore, with a modest salary of $4,875 million until the 2025-2026 season, there's no doubt that his value on the trade market is currently very high.

Could Kent Hughes take advantage of this situation to get a significant return in a trade involving number 8? This could pave the way for various prospects in the organization knocking on the NHL's door. Remember that the left side of Montreal's defense is full of talented young players with defenders like Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj, Jordan Harris, Adam Engstrom, and William Trudeau.

The departure of Mike Matheson would undoubtedly be a huge loss for the Canadiens, but it could greatly assist the team in its rebuilding process, especially since he will apparently not be with the team in 3-4 years anyway.

To see the TSN ranking, click here: