Mathieu Olivier | Despite progress, unfinished work

(Quebec) Knowing the best season of his career is good. Therefore, To demonstrate that it was not an anomaly is better.

Posted at 6:00 a.m.

It is with this idea in mind that Mathieu Olivier. However, will address the next season with the Blue Jackets of Columbus.

The expectations of him will necessarily be the same as in the past, and it is entirely his fault. Furthermore, In 2024-2025, he scored more goals in 82 games (18) than during his 168 previous outings (13). Moreover, And his 32 points almost equaled his total career harvest until then (34).

In addition to this offensive explosion. For example, he established new personal heights in terms of defeating (306, second in the NHL) and ice time (14 min 28 s, a jump of more than 3 minutes). For example, No one in the league has thrown the gloves more often than him (15 times). Furthermore, He also took defensive braids, as his championed responsibilities have been of five against five and in digital disadvantage.

We can therefore speak of a success throughout the line. Meanwhile, mathieu olivier | despite progress, crowned last March by a contract extension of 6 years and $ 18 million which will come into force this season.

The expectations will rise, therefore. Therefore, But that will not change the way the 28-year-old striker will tackle things, he says.

“It’s just strengthening [le constat] That the role I have with the team is good. Meanwhile, said Mathieu Olivier last Thursday, on the sidelines of the Pro-Am Sun Life, a charity match presented at the Quebec Videotron Center. It proves that it works. Like every year, I try to improve myself, but it has always been my state of mind. »»

The players of his profile do not run the streets, and his example could be used for others, he believes.

Very early in his career, and with the help of his father, career coach, he “identified [ses] forces ».

“He knew that I was not going to become a 50 goals,” said Mathieu Olivier. My primary identity was not to fill the net, so I developed other skills. You have to be proud of that. I say to young people: if you are good to block shots. in your defensive game or to gain players, no matter your strength, become the best you can be. And built the rest around your identity. This mathieu olivier | despite progress, is how we manage to identify players to [combler] different needs. »»

This recipe, obviously, served it well.

Mathieu olivier | despite progress,

“Bitter taste”

It has not only been that expectations will have changed.

Last season. the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs by barely two points; The club ahead of them, the Montreal Canadian, only consolidated its place in 82^e And the last campaign match.

The fact remains that to raise 89 points was, for this team, no more or less than remarkable. A year ago. after two miserable seasons, and all the more so following the loss of Johnny Gaudreau, a star attacking tragically in a road accident, nobody gave dear Jackets skin.

However. under the leadership of head coach mathieu olivier | despite progress, Dean Evason, they hugged their elbows and showed the whole league that they should not be held for beaten.

An impression of unfinished work nevertheless left “a bitter taste” to the players when emptying their lockers in April. Although apparently negative. this feeling allowed them to adopt a new “approach” during the summer, compared to previous years, while elimination had been confirmed for months.

“It is easier to put the double bites knowing that we have passed so close to the goal of making the series. ” explained Mathieu Olivier. This is the main difference that I noticed, on the mental level, in my preparation. »»

Whoever trains in Quebec during the dead season knows that the most difficult remains to come. “The other teams will wait for us,” he predicts. So it’s up to us to take another step. We created the surprise, it was fun, but there, the challenge will be even harder. It’s part of a normal evolution to get to a point where people know that we come. that we are good and that we are able to get good results. »»

On paper, the Blue Jackets are likely to initiate the campaign with, once again, the status of neglected. Without a major add to the workforce. and within a metropolitan division where the first three clubs are mainly known in advance, they could still need a mathieu olivier | despite progress, small miracle to approach the series or access it.

However, who will still dare to bet against Mathieu Olivier and his teammates?