The Montreal Canadiens are facing a monumental decision that could define their defensive corps for years to come, and it all revolves around one player: Mike Matheson. The Quebec-born defenseman is in the midst of a career-best season, becoming an indispensable leader on the blue line and silencing any remaining critics with his stellar play.

While Matheson has expressed a desire to remain in Montreal, securing his long-term future comes with a hefty price tag—and renowned insider David Pagnotta has just pulled back the curtain on what that cost might be.

This isn’t just about a standard contract negotiation; it’s a high-stakes poker game between term and salary that will test Kent Hughes’s entire management strategy.

While some reports suggest Matheson is looking for a 4-5 year deal, Pagnotta has revealed a more concrete, and frankly surprising, set of figures that could get the deal done.

The numbers being discussed are significant enough to impact the team’s salary cap flexibility moving forward, forcing management to ask a crucial question: is keeping their top defenseman worth the massive financial commitment? The true price has now been floated, and it’s a number that will surely spark intense debate among the fanbase.

Oct 25, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (8) scores on this shot against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Renowned insider David Pagnotta has just revealed the surprising price to pay if Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens want to keep Mike Matheson.

Matheson is off to a terrific start this season, and while he wants to stay with the Canadiens organization, he also wants to secure his long-term future.

“They are going back and forth on that; I think a lot of it’s gonna depend on term, more so than dollars”

– David Pagnotta

According to Pierre Lebrun, Matheson is looking to secure at least 4-5 years for it to make sense for him.

David Pagnotta Reveals the Surprising Price to Sign Mike Matheson

Pagnotta has now provided more concrete figures.

Here’s what he said about it:

David Pagnotta: Re Mike Matheson negotiations: “I could see that being in that $6.25 to $7m dollar range on a three year term.” – Hello Hockey

That really seems to be the true price tag!

We can’t overlook how vital he’s been to the team’s success this season – and really, over the past few years as well. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton are surely well aware of that.

So, here’s the real question:

At $6 or $7 million per year for three seasons, would you immediately re-sign Mike Matheson in Montreal?

This will definitely be a situation to monitor closely over the next few days, especially now that we know it’s a top priority for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton.