Florida Panthers: Mike Matheson is Due for a Breakout Season

Michael Matheson has been a key part of the Florida Panthers’ defense for the past two seasons, and in the upcoming year, he could take his talents to a whole new level.

24-year-old, Mike Matheson was drafted 23rd overall in the 2012 draft and has been on the team since 2016, where he made a lasting impact in the Florida Panthers’ first-round series against the New York Islanders.

Matheson has since played 81 games each in the past two seasons, showing there’s still more growth to come in his young career. The 2018-19 season would be the perfect opportunity for Matheson to show Panthers fans his full potential.

The Florida Panthers signed Matheson to an 8-year contract worth $4.875M annual value in October, causing fans to debate on whether he was worthy of such a lengthy contract early on, but there are reasons to believe why this young defenseman has another level to reach, and here’s why.

First off, Matheson has already been recognized for leadership, as he was voted as the Florida Panthers’ King Clancy Award nominee, which is given to the player who most exemplifies leadership, both on and off the ice.

As a defenseman, you are expected to log heavy minutes nightly, while leading by example, and his teammates have already noticed Matheson excelling in such areas.

He also has the potential to improve on his overall game, as his quick pace for his 6’2″, 192lb frame, allows him to keep up with today’s speedy forwards like Mathew Barzal and Mitch Marner, while also defending against power forwards like Ryan Getzlaf.

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His size allows him to lay the body on anyone who comes his way, or dares to step in for a check. This allows him to defend almost anything that happens to get in his way, while preventing goals from occurring at his end of the ice.

While Matheson holds a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ice, his point production (which shouldn’t go unnoticed) has also increased over the past couple of years. This season could very well be the year that he could take a leap offensively. Mike’s point tally jumped from 17 to 27 last year, and in the upcoming season of 2018-19, we could definitely see Matheson striking in the 35+ point range.

The Cats could use Matheson in multiple ways next season. He is offensively sound enough to hold his own on the second power play unit, while also being defensively minded enough to be used on the penalty kill. Those aspects of his game further promote his two-way style of play, as he can serve in multiple areas in a game.

Next year, we could definitely see Matheson playing on the Panthers’ first defensive pair with Aaron Ekblad, who plays a similar two-way style to Matheson. With the talent Ekblad has, he could definitely bring the best out of Matheson, and vice versa. The two would compliment each other well, and would combine to become one of the most dangerous pairings in the league, and for a long time too.

Ekblad, who’s 22 years of age, has arguably been the Panthers’ best defenseman since drafted back in 2014. He would make the perfect partnership with Mike Matheson, which would allow it to be the defensive anchor that Panthers fans have waited for (or have at least asked for).

Next: Florida Panthers have Interest in Jeff Skinner

Mike’s versatility, size, and speed allows him to be a possible force on the Florida Panthers’ defense for years to come, and the 2018-19 season is only the beginning!

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