Three teams circling Ducks’ Mason McTavish as contract talks stall

The Anaheim Ducks might be facing a big decision with one of their most important young players. According to James Murphy of RG.org, the Detroit Red Wings “are one team showing serious interest” in 22-year-old centre Mason McTavish, while the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes are also “keeping tabs” on him.

McTavish, coming off a career-high 52-point season, is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, giving Ducks GM Pat Verbeek plenty of leverage in negotiations. Still, with other teams circling, Anaheim fans may start feeling uneasy.

Verbeek has a history of patience when it comes to locking up core pieces. His seven-year, $49-million extension for Troy Terry in 2023 dragged on before a deal was reached, and it’s possible McTavish’s situation will follow a similar path. The GM has the cap space to make a deal but must also prepare for a wave of future raises across the roster.

Back in mid-April, McTavish made it clear he wants to stay in Anaheim:

“Nothing yet. I’m sure it’ll kind of happen as the summer goes on. Obviously, I love it here, and hopefully I can stay here. They believe in me. (No numbers, but) I think that’s more between my agent, me, and Pat.”

Verbeek echoed those sentiments, calling McTavish “very important” to the organization and noting that discussions with his agent had already begun. But by mid-June, no numbers had been exchanged, and as of early July, Verbeek admitted the Ducks were only now starting to “get after it” with McTavish and fellow RFA Lukas Dostal after free agency wrapped up. On July 17th, Dostal reached a five-year contract extension to remain with the Ducks thanks to a deal that is for $32.5 million and carries a $6.5 average annual value.

Contract comparables are already on the table. J.J. Peterka’s recent deal in Utah and Matthew Knies’ extension in Toronto provide benchmarks for a mid-term pact, while Quinton Byfield’s five-year, $6.25-million AAV contract with the Los Angeles Kings could serve as a longer-term model.

For now, the Ducks hold the hammer, but interest from Detroit, Montreal, and Carolina suggests this could get interesting if negotiations drag into the fall.