Mike Matheson hit with multiple pieces of unfortunate news over the past few hours

Tuesday night, Matheson left the game after a hit by Brad Marchand.

In overtime against the Florida Panthers, Marchand hit him in the head along the boards. Matheson got back up with difficulty, then did not return to the game.

A minor penalty was assessed on the play, and the Canadiens took advantage by winning 3-2 on the power play, with Nick Suzuki as the hero.

However, on Wednesday, the NHL chose not to suspend Marchand for this action. It leaves a strange taste, especially when you know that Marchand carries a long reputation in this department.

As if that weren't enough, Team Canada unveiled its roster of 25 players on Wednesday for the 2026 Olympic Games.

Matheson's name is not on it, even though eight defensemen were selected, including Drew Doughty, Thomas Harley, Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey, Colton Parayko, Travis Sanheim, Shea Theodore, and Devon Toews.

Nick Suzuki, meanwhile, is on the roster as a forward, which adds a bit of spice to the story. For now, the big question mark is Matheson's health following this hit.

If he has to miss time, Montreal loses a defenseman who logs minutes like very few players in the NHL. And that, just a few weeks before the winter push, could hurt a lot.

We will therefore keep an eye on this for you, but it is really unfortunate to see that Matheson was overlooked by Team Canada, and it is really unfortunate to see that he appears to be injured.