Montreal Canadiens May Have No Choice but to Trade Mike Matheson, According to Frank Seravalli

Trade season never seems to truly go away in the NHL, and while holiday cheer is just around the corner, the NHL trade chatter remains hot.

League insiders report that the chatter about potential deals is getting started earlier than usual, with disappointing starts for several clubs.

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the clubs exploring what's out there in the trade market.

A month into the season, the Habs have a much better idea about their strengths and, more importantly, their weaknesses.

Although the March 7 trade deadline is months away, things are spicy.

In a recent column, hockey insider Frank Seravalli weighed in with an interesting take on one of the pivotal pieces in Montreal's lineup: Mike Matheson.

Matheson is a left defenseman who is 30 years old.

He has one goal and 12 assists, for 13 points in 19 games played with the team so far this year, which are very respectable numbers.

His contract is also team-friendly because it only has one year remaining, at $4.875 million AAV.

Matheson has been a great stabilizing force on the Canadiens' blue line, particularly with the younger defensemen learning the ropes.

He's a puck-moving defenseman who can play either side, and his defensive game often goes underrated when looking at things through real-world glasses.

Last year, he was one of the top-scoring defensemen in the league, finishing ninth in his position with 62 points.

Despite his value, the Canadiens are at something of a crossroads.

Matheson's trade value is arguably as high as it will get, and trading him could net significant assets in return.

The thing is, the Montreal roster doesn't really need more draft picks, rather, what they need is bodies.

The decision will ultimately come down to how much potential versus need the team weighs.

As the trade season heats up even more, Mike Matheson's future in Montreal will be one to watch over the coming weeks.