Canadiens’ Mike Matheson named alternate captain for 2023-24

Defenseman Mike Matheson will wear a letter on his jersey for the first time in his professional hockey career.

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that the Quebec native will join Brendan Gallagher as an alternate captain for the 2023-24 season, with Nick Suzuki remaining as captain.

Matheson replaces Joel Edmundson, who signed with Washington over the summer.

The 29-year-old just completed his first season with the club, scoring eight goals and 34 points in 48 games. He was a standout offensive defenseman for the Habs, who, despite missing just under half the season due to a lower-body injury, put up his career-best numbers. The Canadiens’ young defense core allowed Matheson ample opportunities, which paid off.

Matheson was part of the trade that sent Jeff Petry to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022. Drafted 23rd overall by Florida in 2012, he spent hte first five years of his NHL career with the team before landing in Pittsburgh for a two-year stint starting in 2020-21. Matheson has 57 goals and 172 points in 465 NHL regular season games and another seven points in 20 postseason outings.

Away from the NHL, Matheson served as captain of Boston College in his final NCAA season, where he wrapped up his tenure with 14 goals and 71 points in 112 games from 2012-15. He also has 13 points in 20 games with Canada’s World Championship team over two years, winning gold in 2016 and silver in 2017.

Matheson, who has a $4.875 million cap hit and a modified no-trade clause, is under contract until 2025-26. He’s expected to be a big part of the team’s early rebuild, with the Canadiens projected to finish near the bottom of the standings once again. Montreal finished last in the Atlanta Division and 28th overall, good enough to land David Reinbacher with the fifth overall pick at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville.