Mike Matheson News

Matheson has a massive contract, with six years left at $4.875M but the 26-year-old was brought in to replace Justin Schultz, who is a UFA. Matheson has tremendous mobility for a 6-foot-2 defenseman and heads to Pittsburgh with at least eight goals and 20 points in three consecutive seasons. Matheson fell out of favour in Florida in 2020 but should be a fine second or third pairing defenseman in Pittsburgh.

Matheson was a surprising healthy scratch on Thursday but head coach Joel Quenneville said that he'll be back in the lineup vs. the Bruins. After posting back-to-back 27-point seasons, Matheson is on pace for just nine points in 2019-20.

Matheson has had a tough season so far, scoring just one goal with two assists in 25 games. Matheson played just 13:41 TOI on Tuesday and will be scratched in favour of Mark Pysyk on Thursday night. Coach Quenneville called it “not an easy thing to do," especially when you consider that Matheson has seven years left on a deal that carries a $4.875M AAV cap-hit.

Matheon has missed the last five games but with Corey Stillman heading back to the AHL on Tuesday, it paved the way for Matheson's return vs. The Capitals. He has had a slow offensive start to the season, pointing a single assist in nine games.

Matheson was forced to leave Tuesday's game vs. the Penguins and is expected to miss at least 10 days with an undisclosed injury. Riley Stillman was called up from the AHL to replace Matheson on Thursday.

Matheson was suspended two games for his hit on Elias Pettersson last week, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Red Wings. Matheson has not registered a point this season, but generates a solid number of shots and blocks for daily fantasy players.

Matheson will not play Tuesday in Philadelphia or Friday in Washington, but is eligible to return Saturday vs. the Red Wings. Pettersson will miss at least 7-10 days with a concussion as a result of the hit.

Matheson, 23, was the No.23 pick in 2012 and has become a big part of the Panthers’ blueline, averaging over 21 minutes per game last year and through the first two games of this season. He has some offensive ability to his game and should be able to top his 17 points (7G / 10A) from last season.

Matheson has four points (2G / 2A) and 19 shots on goal in seven games this season, but will be a healthy scratch on Saturday in Buffalo. This might just be a move to get the young defenseman some rest, especially with the Panthers back in action again tomorrow. He’ll be replaced by Steve Kampfer.

Matheson, 21, was the Panthers first round pick (23rd overall) in 2012 but has never appeared in an NHL game. He has posted five goals and nine assists (14 points) in 43 games with Portland this season and is expected to make his NHL debut on Saturday.

Hejduk was selected 87th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1994. He did not play in the NHL until the 1998-99 season. He spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche, totalling 375 goals and 430 assists (805 points) in 1020 career regular season games. He was a three-time All-Star and was the 2002-03 Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner for most regular season goals with 50. He had 76 career playoff points (34G / 42A) and won one Stanley Cup in 2000-01.

Hejduk has been out since March 30 because of a shoulder injury. Whom he will replace in the Avs lineup hasn't been decided yet by coach Joe Sacco.

Hejduk last played Mar. 30 in a victory over Nashville and the Avs dropped five consecutive games as he recovered from a shoulder injury.

Hejduk will be replaced by either David Jones or Jamie McGinn, who were healthy scratches for the first time this season on Wednesday. One of them won't play again.