Kent Hughes should be an active seller in this year's trade market, and while all eyes are on Sean Monahan, there's at least one defenseman who could also be on the move.
Yes, Mike Matheson is a pretty popular player in the Montreal market. And yes, his offensive numbers have recently helped bolster the Canadiens on the scoring side of things. But the veteran defenseman, soon to turn 30 years old, is currently minus-17 on the season with only one player on the roster to hold a worse plus-minus rating.
Add to that his propensity for turnovers this season, and the amount of time he spends in the penalty box, and you've got an interesting combination of statistics that could be good for the Habs to move on from while also looking advantageous for another team on the trade market.
At this point in Montreal's rebuild, fans should expect Matheson to be an integral part of the next phase of the team's rebuild. David Savard is likely also on his way out, but Matheson's offensive skill could get Kent Hughes some pretty decent returns if he were to offer him up before the trade deadline.
The next phase of the rebuild will need to incorporate giving the blossoming young blueliners on the roster even more responsibility and ice time; Kaiden Guhle, Justin Barron, Jayden Struble, and, eventually, Logan Mailloux, all need to take the next step forward and have room to do so.
And what about Arber Xhekaj? After having a seemingly successful stint in the AHL, fans responded positively when he was recalled to Montreal. But the 23-year-old rearguard found himself as a healthy scratch for the final game before the All-Star break after taking some unfortunate penalties earlier in the week.
Just how precarious is Xhekaj's situation, and how much room will the coaches and management give him to make mistakes now that he's back from Laval? Is it a situation where they'll practice patience? Or could the fan-favorite find himself back on the AHL squad again at some point this season?
On this week's episode of Habs Hockey Report, I lay out my thoughts and analysis on both of these important topics. Click the video to watch the full episode: Should the Montreal Canadiens TRADE or KEEP This Defenseman?
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_qb9LqEGlg[/embed]
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