Mike Matheson: a top 15-20 defenseman in the NHL, according to Antoine Roussel

I don’t know how Kent Hughes acquired Mike Matheson, but he was a steal.

Since he’s been in Montreal, he’s been playing inspired hockey and is clearly the team’s best defenseman. In fact, he may not just be the team’s best defenseman, but the team’s best player.

According to Antoine Roussel, he’s the star of the team, the top of the class.

In fact, the Frenchman believes he’s one of the 15-20 best defensemen in the Bettman circuit. That’s what he said on 98.5 Sports.

And in the NHL, Matheson is tied for 13th with Erik Karlsson, who has four more games played. He also has one more point than the league’s smartest player, Adam Fox. To say he’s one of the NHL’s top-20 defensemen may not be wrong, then. At least, this season, it proves Roussel right.

As for Stéphane Waite, Mario Langlois’ other guest, his first-in-class is – you guessed it – Samuel Montembeault. According to the former Tricolore goalie coach, he’s amply proven himself as this team’s number-one goalie. He also boasts superior stats to the other two goaltenders, Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau.

And for the past few games, Monty seems to be the clear number one. Unlike Allen and Primeau, he has the confidence of his coach to play two consecutive games. Tonight, after a heavy setback at the hands of the Sharks, he’ll be in the starting line-up again.

As for the two analysts’ disappointments, the names of Jesse Ylonen, Justin Barron, Cole Caufield and Arber Xhekaj were mentioned.

According to Waite, Ylonen is missing out on a golden opportunity to establish himself as an NHL player, Barron’s defensive game leaves something to be desired and Caufield’s… we’ve gone all the way around the tape in his case.

Waite and Roussel agreed that Xhekaj was also a big disappointment. The former player wondered, however, if there wasn’t too much pressure. After all, fans were chanting his name and even a burger was invented in his name.

It can be heavy for such a young player…

In gossip

– The Rocket doesn’t lose anymore.

– The Lions, too, won.

A great win before the All-Star break!#Lions3R #ForgedTogether #RageOCoeur pic.twitter.com/vqzs00FWSS

– Trois-Rivières Lions (@Lions3r) January 13, 2024

– He’s confident.

Logan Mailloux

Unsuccessful, but the kind of play a confident player tries! pic.twitter.com/7CwdmuFRlU

– RDS (@RDSca) January 13, 2024

– The first goal in Verdun belongs to Erin Ambrose.

– Too bad.

– A busy time for J.T. Miller.