Just over two months before NHL training camps begin, 22-year-old Anaheim Ducks RFA forward Mason McTavish still needs a new contract for this fall. And if he’s being honest, he’s probably tired of the Ducks sinking to the bottom of the Pacific every year.

He’s also dealing with Pat Verbeek, the Ducks’ GM with a rep for grinding just as hard in negotiations as he did as a star buzzsaw NHL player in the 1980s and ’90s. 

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That’s fertile summer soil for the growth of NHL media speculation, and Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli is among those who’ve floated out McTavish’s name as a player to watch this summer.

The idea of McTavish somehow ending up in Ottawa and centering a top line for the hometown team is undeniably appealing. As Sens fans might say over a pint at the Cheshire Cat Pub, “He’s a good Carp lad.” McTavish also has high-end skill and that classic rural Ottawa strength and size.

But his ties to the Sens go deeper than residency. McTavish also helped Steve Staios’ Hamilton Bulldogs win an OHL title just three years ago. And it’s clear that — like Don Cherry and his Bull Terriers — Staios has a soft spot for his Bulldogs. Staios and Michael Andlauer have brought in the likes of former Bulldogs GM Matt Turek, handing him the reins of their AHL club. Staios has also acquired former Hamilton stars Arthur Kaliyev and Jan Jeník.

So the McTavish-to-Ottawa fantasy feels like it writes itself.

But even with all those feel-good connections, there are far more compelling reasons why McTavish won’t be moved at all, let alone end up in Ottawa.

Let’s start with the basics: Despite all the talk, the Anaheim Ducks probably aren’t trading him.

With the summer trade of Trevor Zegras, Anaheim loses some depth at centre. Zegras had been bumped to the wing to clear the way for Leo Carlsson and McTavish, but Verbeek wouldn’t let potential centre ice depth walk out the door if McTavish was about to depart as well.

The 6-foot-1, 219-pound McTavish is coming off his best NHL season yet with 22 goals and 52 points in 76 games. That total led the Ducks in goals and was second in team scoring behind only Troy Terry.

More impressive than the raw stats is the upward trend in almost every area. These are the kinds of players teams like the Ducks use as pillars for the rebuild.

As for McTavish's view on things, there has been the standard jibber-jabber out there that he might be unhappy in Anaheim. Sure, he’s probably tired of losing, but the Ducks did some good things in the off-season, and how upset could he really be with a top nine that might look like this?

Cutter Gauthier-Leo Carlsson-Troy Terry
Chris Kreider-Mason McTavish-Mikael Granlund
Frank Vatrano-Ryan Strome-Alex Killorn

The Ducks are expected to re-sign McTavish, and while negotiations might take a while, he’s still under club control until 2029.

But for argument's sake, let’s say McTavish did want out, to the point where he'd sign an offer sheet somewhere.

Any remotely reasonable offer would be matched by the Ducks. Anything ludicrous (north of $9.1 million) would cost Ottawa at least two first-rounders, a second, and a third — and they don’t even have their own first-round pick next year. On top of that, if you want overkill, the Senators would have to move out important players to make the cap work. An offer sheet isn’t just a dead end; it’s a non-starter.

So, that leaves a trade. And yes, “never say never” always applies to trades. In theory, anything is possible.

But the asking price would be so, so steep – steep enough to make Sens fans recoil in horror. Ridly Greig and a second-round pick aren’t getting it done, especially with 31 other teams knocking on Verbeek's door.

Verbeek is smart. He’s chosen McTavish as a foundational piece, but isn’t going to overpay until he has to. If Ottawa wants in on that, the conversation would start with someone like Shane Pinto and possibly another core piece on the NHL roster. And even then, Anaheim might ask for a first-rounder Ottawa doesn’t have. 

Acquiring McTavish is an intriguing notion. He’s from here, plays the way this city loves, and already has ties to the people running the show. But the Ducks know exactly what they have. They’re not eager to give him up, but if they do, the Senators aren’t in a position right now to pay the price.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News-Ottawa

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