The Anaheim Ducks made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, turning the corner on a long and brutal rebuild. However, one young player they expected to contribute in a big way didn’t have the expected impact. Mason McTavish had some struggles during the 2025-26 season. And there is a chance this past campaign was his final one in Orange County.
McTavish is the subject of trade rumors at this time. Reports have indicated a number of teams could be interested in the former third overall pick. It would be an intriguing move from the Ducks, who have only opened their contention window. Anaheim has no true need to trade McTavish, but there is logic to both sides.
On one hand, if McTavish doesn’t rebound, his stock won’t rise much higher. Other young players have failed to live up to hype on other teams. And some arguably held them for too long. For instance, the New York Rangers probably aren’t getting a lot out of an Alexis Lafreniere trade now than they would have had they traded him a while back. Lafreniere is an NHL player, but the shine has worn off, so to speak.
The Ducks could avoid that fate if they traded McTavish this summer. At the same time, it’s hard to give up on a player like McTavish following one down season. The Ducks have a talented young core already in place. But no team wants to trade a 23-year-old with legitimate skill and potential, given the risk of it blowing up in their faces.
If the Ducks elect to trade Mason McTavish this summer, though, here are two potential teams that work as a landing spot.
Ducks’ Mason McTavish could be included in potential Dylan Larkin trade
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings have some unexpected business to attend to this offseason. Captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade out of his home state and is looking for a new challenge. The Ducks have the pieces to make a trade work, and McTavish could certainly be included.
The Red Wings will need a center in return for Larkin. Detroit does have depth at the center position, but without Larkin, they lack a true headliner. At this time, McTavish is not a top-line center in the NHL. However, there is a chance he could reach that stage in time. The Red Wings could be the team that takes a chance on that potential.
Even if McTavish is not involved in a Larkin trade, the Ducks make a ton of sense. If the two teams can work out a deal, it would be an ideal spot for the 23-year-old pivot to rediscover his game.
Devils make sense for former third overall pick
The New Jersey Devils have quite the interesting core, at least on paper. Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier are one of the best center duos in the NHL. Jesper Bratt has shown the ability to be an elite scoring winger. Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec are promising defenders. New Jersey has a lot of talent already in place.
The Devils could use a bit more impact in their top-nine, though. Taking a swing on McTavish could be a worthwhile move for new general manager Sunny Mehta. The Ducks forward could slot in as a winger or center somewhere in the top nine. With Jack Hughes being the lone center signed past the 2026-27 season that’s currently projected to make the roster, adding a center makes sense for New Jersey.
What a trade between the Ducks and Devils would look like remains to be seen. But the idea of a trade certainly makes sense for New Jersey as they try to capitalize on the talent on their roster heading into next season.
The Anaheim Ducks made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, turning the corner on a long and brutal rebuild. However, one young player they expected to contribute in a big way didn’t have the expected impact. Mason McTavish had some struggles during the 2025-26 season. And there is a chance this past campaign was his final one in Orange County.