Sportsnet’s Rory Boylen put together a list of the most likely player to get traded from each one of the NHL’s 31 member clubs once we reach the next offseason. Boylen tabbed much-maligned defenseman Mike Matheson as his choice when it came to the Florida Panthers.
Here are his thoughts regarding the 26-year-old former Boston College Eagle.
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Florida Panthers: Michael Matheson
Easily the most disappointing team of 2019-20, the Florida Panthers will want to make some changes in the off-season. There could be room for some young forwards to move into the lineup, such as Owen Tippett or recently-signed Grigori Denisenko, as pending UFAs Mike Hoffman and Evgenii Dadonov remain without contracts. Sergei Bobrovsky was the story of what went wrong in Florida this season, but the defence shouldn’t escape blame here. It was porous and a weakness, too, so expect some sort of turnover there. Matheson is 26, signed through 2025-26, and doesn’t have any trade protection.
If the Panthers were able to move Matheson’s $4,875,000 cap hit, they could possibly add what many seem to think they need the most, an upgrade to the defense corps. This can de done through free agency or via a trade for perhaps one of the other defensemen on Boylen’s list, like Minnesota’s Mathew Dumba, Jake Gardiner of the Carolina Hurricanes, or Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen. Wild blueliner Jonas Brodin is also rumored t be available.
Should the Panthers trade Matheson?
| Yes, whatever it takes | 29 |
| Yes, but don’t retain salary | 47 |
| No | 19 |