The Montreal Canadiens are off to a rough start, and playoff hopes are quickly fading.

At the start of the season, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton expressed optimism, stating the team could be “in the mix” for a playoff spot.

However, this vision is now being questioned, particularly by journalist Brian Wilde.

Brian Wilde Says Montreal Should Have Traded Mike Matheson Last Summer

During his appearance on The Sick Podcast hosted by Tony Marinaro, Brian Wilde suggested that Kent Hughes should have traded defenseman Mike Matheson when his value was at its peak.

Wilde believes that in a rebuilding phase, it’s better to trade high-value players who won’t be part of the final roster, allowing the team to stockpile draft picks and strengthen its prospect pool.

Mike Matheson, who had an outstanding 62-point season last year, remains a valued asset for his experience and his role in mentoring young players.

At 30 years old, Matheson is still a cornerstone for the Canadiens, but some wonder if a trade might have better positioned the team for the future.

With two years left on his contract and an annual salary of $4.88 million, his peak value was likely reached this past summer.

What would you do with a player like Matheson?

Do you also think he should have been traded last summer?

At what price would you be willing to let him go?

These are several questions, but they are undoubtedly relevant given the circumstances and Montreal’s far tougher-than-expected start to the season, something even management didn’t foresee.