Veteran defenseman Mike Matheson is in discussions for a contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens as he approaches the end of his current deal. Matheson is in the final season of an eight-year, $39 million contract he signed with the Florida Panthers. His agent at the time was Kent Hughes, who is now the general manager of the Canadiens.

This season, Matheson has a cap hit of $4.875 million, which many consider to be below market value. Comparatively, he is projected to command a cap hit of around $9 million in his next contract. This figure is less than his defensive partner Noah Dobson, who has a cap hit of $9.5 million, but slightly more than Lane Hutson's upcoming contract, which will start at $8.85 million next season.

Despite expectations that Matheson would have a reduced workload after Dobson joined the team, he continues to lead the Canadiens in ice time, averaging over 25 minutes per game. His role includes significant responsibilities against opposing top lines and on the penalty kill.

As for the length of Matheson's potential new contract, a four-year term seems reasonable. However, former general manager André Savard cautioned, "You always end up giving a player one year that won’t work out." Matheson will be 32 when a new deal begins, and if it extends to five years, he would be 37 at its conclusion, which is considered advanced age in hockey. Currently, only six players in the league are 38 or older, with the oldest defenseman being 40-year-old Brent Burns.

In another development, the trade involving Zachary Bolduc and Logan Mailloux has shifted from a favorable deal to what some are calling a significant misstep for the St. Louis Blues. Bolduc is establishing himself as a top-six forward, while Mailloux has struggled, leading to his demotion to the AHL. In nine games with the Blues, Mailloux failed to score and recorded a minus-12 rating, which has raised concerns about his future in the NHL. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong stated that the demotion is temporary, but there are doubts about Mailloux's long-term prospects in the league.

Meanwhile, Michael Hage, a first-round draft pick in 2024, has been moved from center to right wing by University of Michigan coach Brandon Naurato. Hage is among the NCAA's leading scorers, with eight goals and 17 points in 12 games. However, Naurato noted that Hage struggled with the defensive responsibilities of playing center and needs to improve his faceoff percentage, which currently stands at 45.8%.

In women's hockey, the U.S. women's national team defeated Canada 4-1 and 6-1 in the first two games of the Rivalry Series. Despite the losses, there is no cause for alarm as both teams prepare for their Olympic showdown in February. The U.S. utilized its top goaltenders, while Canada opted for younger players. Olympic gold medalists Ann-Renée Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer did not participate in these games but are expected to return for the series finale in Edmonton next month.

Lastly, the NHL has opened an office in Zurich, sparking speculation about potential expansion into Europe. The league has previously held regular-season games in Europe, and there is a growing interest in tapping into the European market. Other leagues, such as the NFL and NBA, are also exploring international expansion opportunities, with potential cities including London, Paris, and Madrid among others.