3 trade deadline destinations if Canadiens deal Mike Matheson

Mike Matheson could be moving to a playoff contender at the trade deadline.

Toronto Maple Leafs v Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs v Montreal Canadiens | Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages
2 of 4

Florida Panthers

Michael Matheson
Florida Panthers v New York Islanders - Game Four | Bruce Bennett/GettyImages

Matheson is familiar with the sunshine state, as he started his career with the Florida Panthers. He played in Florida from 2015 to 2020, averaging over 18 minutes per game, but never found the offensive upside that he did later with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Canadiens. Matheson would return to Florida as a different player, able to run a powerplay and produce points from the backend. His defense may not be as good, but the Panthers may not need it.

Florida lacks the presence of Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson from their Stanley Cup-winning team. Matheson wouldn't fill Montour's shoes, but he could serve the same role as Ekman-Larsson. Who knows, maybe he could turn back the clock in the postseason like Ekman-Larsson in 2024 and return the Panthers to glory.

Schedule