Newly-acquired Mike Matheson sees himself as good fit in Penguins’ style, lineup
No one knows with certainty when the next NHL season will begin. If Mike Matheson was making the decision, it wouldn’t alter much from a normal season’s calendar.
“I wish the season was starting tomorrow,” the Pittsburgh Penguins’ newest defenseman said during a video call with media Friday.
Matheson was acquired from the Florida Panthers along with forward Colton Sceviour in exchange for winger Patric Hornqvist in a trade announced Thursday.
“It’s tough to get news like this and have to wait a few more months to be able to get on the ice with everyone,” Matheson said. “But I’m super excited to get going and to get to Pittsburgh, start practicing with the guys. It’s definitely given me a big spark and has given me a new life, new expectations for myself. And I just can’t wait to get started.”
A former first-round pick, Matheson is considered a strong skater with good puck-moving abilities. His pedigree was enough for the Panthers to give him an eight-year contract extension worth $39 million in 2017.
By the second season of that deal, Matheson at times was a healthy scratch by Florida coach Joel Quenneville.
“Things weren’t really working, it seemed like,” Matheson said. “I felt like I wasn’t always being put in the best opportunity to succeed — and, obviously, blame myself for that, too. There were times where my game wasn’t where it should be.
“(The Penguins) play a game I would love to be a part of.”
The Penguins value speed and skill as much as any team in the league and, under general manager Jim Rutherford, have salivated over puck-moving defensemen. Acquisitions on defense over the past five years who struggled with other teams but flourished in Pittsburgh include Justin Schultz, Trevor Daley, Ian Cole, Ron Hainsey and Marcus Pettersson.
“I think that the way they play will complement my skill set well,” Matheson said, “and that I’ll hopefully be able to assimilate into their lineup and be able to help as much as possible.”
That won’t be easy with the Penguins’ abundance of left-handed shots on the blue line, though Matheson said he is comfortable playing on the right side of a pairing, too.
‘Blindsided’ Patric Hornqvist: Easy to waive no-trade clause because Penguins ‘didn’t want me’ https://t.co/2YKgCPvwYQ via @C_AdamskiTrib @TribSports @TribLIVE
— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) September 25, 2020
Sceviour is a right-handed shot who also expressed a comfort level playing on either wing. He said he’s played on the right side more over the course of his seven-plus years in the NHL, but he played more frequently on the left wing last season for the Panthers.
Whatever side the 31-year-old Sceviour plays, it assuredly will be in a bottom-six role. He also figures to be one of the Penguins’ primary penalty-killers.
Matheson has appeared in seven career playoff games, and Sceviour also has limited playoff success, being part of one playoff series win.
That has made him appreciative of the opportunity to join the Penguins.
“You look at the team and instantly you go, ‘OK, it’s a Stanley Cup contender,’ ” he said. “That’s exciting for any time you look at a team you’re on.
“It’s a heck of a team, a heck of an organization, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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