Mike Matheson is playing himself into the deadline conversation

The Montreal Canadiens ran roughshod over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night. It was a decisive victory in a battle between two clear sellers at the upcoming NHL trade deadline. The Habs looked like the team closer to competing, but undoubtedly still one that will need to sell assets before their right to do so is suspended for the remainder of the year.

With that in mind, whether or not Mike Matheson is on the trade block, his play of late has made him arguably their most significant asset.

He may not have lit up the score sheet against the Flyers, but his overall play, and underlying numbers were excellent. The Canadiens held an expected-goals advantage of 56.79% when he was on the…