A look at possibilities: While Mason McTavish remains a cornerstone for the Anaheim Ducks, intensifying NHL trade rumors have linked the young forward to several Eastern Conference heavyweights. This composite view imagines McTavish in the sweaters of two rumored suitors: the Toronto Maple Leafs (left) and the Montreal Canadiens (right). We break down the likelihood of these blockbusters below.
Whether Mason McTavish will actually be traded this offseason is still up in the air, but his name is undeniably the hottest commodity in the NHL rumor mill right now. Following a breakout 52-point campaign last year, the wheels have seemingly fallen off. I’ve been around the league a long time, and when a young star goes from a bitter contract holdout to taking a seat in the press box as a healthy scratch, the writing is often on the wall.
Insiders are reporting that Anaheim Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek will have to seriously evaluate McTavish’s future once the season concludes. With just 32 points through 61 games, the $42 million ($7M AAV) contract extension is looking heavy. But is a trade truly imminent, or is this just tough love from a new coaching regime? Here is my breakdown of the situation in Anaheim and the Eastern Conference heavyweights circling the waters.
Why a Mason McTavish Trade Makes Sense for Anaheim
From my perspective, McTavish’s current struggles are a textbook case of a contract hangover colliding with a culture shift. McTavish missed training camp during a bitter holdout, finally signing his six-year deal just days before the puck dropped on the season. As we’ve seen with other high-profile RFA holdouts across the league, missing camp almost always derails a player’s first half.
Combine that with first-year Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville, a notoriously no-nonsense bench boss who demands two-way accountability, and you have a recipe for friction. Scratching a $7 million player for consecutive games, including a highly anticipated matchup against his former teammate Trevor Zegras, signals a massive loss of trust. Crucially for Verbeek, McTavish has zero trade protection. His 15-team no-trade list doesn’t kick in until the 2029-30 season, meaning the Anaheim Ducks hold all the cards.
Potential Landing Spots for the Ducks’ Star
If the Ducks decide a change of scenery is best, the market will be robust. Here are the frontrunners looking to buy low:
Montreal Canadiens: Kent Hughes is aggressively hunting for a top-six center. After missing out on major deadline deals, the Montreal Canadiens view McTavish as the ideal offseason acquisition to slot right behind Nick Suzuki.
Boston Bruins: The Boston Bruins balked at high deadline asking prices for veteran centers. McTavish offers them a younger, cost-controlled “buy-low” option with the grit Boston traditionally loves down the middle.
Philadelphia Flyers: Keep your eye on the Philadelphia Flyers. The narrative of reuniting McTavish with Trevor Zegras is too good to ignore, and Danny Brière has the draft capital to make Anaheim a massive offer.
Toronto Maple Leafs: With major roster retooling potentially happening in Toronto, the Toronto Maple Leafs could target McTavish to restructure their forward core, injecting youth, size, and a different style of play into their top six.
While the Ducks have the cap space to simply wait and hope he bounces back, the noise isn’t going away.
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