Penguins Matheson May Be Worth the Price After All

I confess. My opinion of new Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson has fluctuated wildly. Much like the dips on the Thunderbolt roller coaster at Kennywood Park.

When former GM Jim Rutherford acquired the 26-year-old native of Point-Claire, Quebec from Florida along with Colton Sceviour for Patric Hornqvist, the first thing I noticed aside from his inflated salary ($32 million over six seasons including this one) were his inflated stats.

Not the good ones (33 career NHL goals), but rather the minus-24 and league-worst 135 giveaways in 2018-19. A tenth-worst 92 giveaways the season before. To provide some perspective, Kris Letang’s highest giveaway total is 89, and that was during his difficult 2017-18 season when he was coming back from neck surgery.

Reviews out of the Sunshine State weren’t exactly glowing. Especially after Matheson was benched for the final two games of the Panthers’ qualifying round series last summer against the Islanders following a dreadful Game Two.

“Since entering the NHL’s Toronto playoff bubble, Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson hasn’t been much help to his team,” wrote Alex Baumgartner of Fansided. “His play since the NHL season resumed has been noticeably bad. Matheson has been a liability to his team and is jeopardizing their chances of moving on in the postseason.”

Sheesh.

I’ll admit, I questioned the deal and Rutherford’s sanity.

Then I began to watch highlight videos of Matheson. How effortlessly he skates, how well he handles the puck, what a great shot and quick release he possesses. How he’s able to pick his spots with it. Not to mention a hint of physicality.

Too, with assistant coach Todd Reirden coming on board and given his reputation for fixing broken d-men (Matt Niskanen for one)… Maybe, just maybe, he might work out for us, I thought.

I opined as much in the blog.

Then came the season opener against the Flyers. To be kind, Mike’s play was a living, breathing incarnation of every negative written about him. He was on the ice for three of Philly’s goals and in the penalty box for a fourth.

He wasn’t much better in the second game, appearing shaky while receiving sheltered minutes before departing with an injury.

When rookie Pierre-Olivier Joseph stepped in and began playing like a seasoned vet, I questioned JR’s sanity again. Why he would take on such an egregious long-term contract for such a pricey (and dicey) player when P-O was obviously NHL ready?

Needless to say, I was apprehensive about Matheson’s return against the Islanders on February 6. Yet almost immediately I noticed a difference in his play. Like night and day. He appeared to be playing within himself and looked more poised at both ends of the ice. He unleashed two shots on goal delivered two hits and logged over 20 minutes of ice time.

Since then, he’s improved exponentially with each passing game. Over the past four contests…not coincidentally three of them black-and-gold victories…Mike’s averaged nearly 22 minutes of ice time, registered 11 shots on goal, delivered four hits and blocked four shots.

Along the way he’s authored a couple of offensive gems, using his wheels and sense of anticipation to jump into the play. Against the Capitals last Sunday he worked a beautiful give-and-go with Sidney Crosby before setting up Bryan Rust with a crisp net-front pass for an easy tap-in.

Then came his piece de resistance on Thursday night. Calling for the puck at the left point, he drilled a slap-pass off the end boards to himself. Then he flashed past Brock Nelson, scooped up the puck and fired a hard shot that kicked off Semyon Varlamov and onto the waiting stick of Teddy Blueger, who whipped it home from point-blank range.

It almost seemed as if Matheson planned it that way.

Following the game, Mike Sullivan went out of his way to sing the newcomer’s praises.

“I thought Mike had a real strong game on both sides of the puck. You can see his skating ability and how effective it is both defending and taking time and space from our opponents, and closing on people,” said the Pens’ coach. “And then, offensively, the ability to join the rush. The play he made on Teddy Blueger’s goal … You can see his mobility off that offensive blue line and how effective it can be.”

Time will tell if Matheson can continue to perform at his present level. But I’m beginning to understand what the Panthers saw in him when they inked him to that long-term deal back in 2017…and actually rated him ahead of gifted teammate Aaron Ekblad in terms of upside potential.

Let’s hope he fulfills that potential.

In the Crosshairs

Tonight’s game against the Islanders at PPG Paints Arena may get physical. And, according to comments made by New York coach Barry Trotz, Matheson could be squarely in the crosshairs.

The Pens’ defender caught Matt Barzal with a crosscheck from behind in the third period on Thursday night, which sent the Isles’ star face-first into the boards.

Although Barzal was unhurt, Islanders heavy Matt Martin paid Matheson a visit in the closing moments and tried to engage him in a fight. Look for more of the same this evening.