Mike Matheson talks Canadiens’ biggest rival and Nick Suzuki’s 2026 Olympic chances on Spittin’ Chiclets

Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson, fresh off his contract extension, made a surprise visit to Spittin’ Chiclets, hosted by former NHLers Paul Bissonnette, Ryan Whitney, and Keith Yandle. The renowned hockey podcast was doing a recap of all the major things that happened in the last week in the hockey world, and when they got on the topic of Matheson’s new contract, Yandle, who was teammates with him when he was a member of the Florida Panthers, surprised his co-hosts by bringing on the Point-Claire native on the show.

Staying home in Montreal

They began the interview by asking Matheson about his new contract, which will keep him in Montreal until 2031. Matheson opened up about why he signed the extension, even though he could have possibly gotten more money on the open market had he gone to free agency after this season.

Two things stood out in his response. Having an opportunity to win, which he believes Montreal has the capability to do so in the next couple of years, and stability for his family. He said earlier in his career that he could afford to be selfish and solely focus on his hockey career, but now, with kids, being close to home is something that is important to him.

He also added that something he learned during his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins is that if you want to win a Stanley Cup, it takes some sacrifice, and taking a pay cut is part of that. It starts with your leaders and trickles down.

We have already seen that start to happen, with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield signing long-term deals that will look like bargains as the salary cap continues to rise.

Maple Leafs or Bruins: Who is the bigger rival?

As they continue the interview, Whitney spots a comment that asks a question Habs fans would love to know a player's answer to: Which team is the bigger rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Boston Bruins?

As a Montreal native, Matheson would be the best player to answer that question, but the savvy veteran gives the veteran response. He starts off by saying that the crowd at the Bell Centre is top-notch, no matter who they are playing.

However, he added that whenever the Maple Leafs or Bruins are in town, “it adds fuel to the fire.” For the question of which is the Canadiens' biggest rival, Matheson said it changes from year to year. It all depends on how the teams are performing and how the matchups play out throughout the season.

For a while, it felt like the Bruins had overtaken the Maple Leafs as the franchise's biggest rival, but as Toronto got more competitive over the last couple of seasons, the pendulum has swung back in their direction. Either way, whenever the Maple Leafs or Bruins are in town, it is always must-see TV.

Suzuki Olympic chances

The interview ends with Bissonnette asking Matheson if he feels that Suzuki should be on Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Olympics after being snubbed for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Matheson had nothing but praise to say about his captain.

He believes that Suzuki’s versatility is his biggest strength. He can play in any facet of the game, whether it is playing his natural position of centre or on the wing. If you need him to play a defensive role in your bottom-six or on the penalty kill, he can do it. If you need him to be an engine and drive offence in the top-six or on the power play, he is more than capable of doing it. Matheson adds that Suzuki’s ability to not feel pressure is one of his biggest strengths.

After being named captain at the age of 23, Suzuki did not let the added pressure of wearing the “C” affect his game on the ice, improving on his point totals in every single season, and he is on pace to do so once again this season.

Matheson made two things abundantly clear in the interview. How excited he was to be a Canadien for five more years, and the optimism of what this team can become.