Most of the major NHL offseason dominoes have already fallen.
But, with the new year quickly approaching, there are still some big names out there that could be on the move. One to watch for is Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish.
Here is the latest on McTavish:
“The Red Wings ‘are on team showing serious interest’; with the Canadiens and Hurricanes also ‘keeping tabs’ on him,” according to James Murphy of RG.
McTavish, 22, was the third overall selection in the 2021 Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, where he has put together a solid first three campaigns.
After debuting at the end of the 2021-22 season, McTavish has grown into a regular for the Ducks, mostly operating as their second-line center. Over 229 games, he has 60 goals, 140 points, and finished 7th in Calder voting in 2023.
McTavish is not a dominant two-way forward and struggles with defensive assignments and responsibilities. However, he is a skilled playmaker (30 assists last year) and would provide the Red Wings with formidable depth down the middle, led by captain Dylan Larkin and sophomore Marco Kasper.
McTavish is also entering the final year of his rookie deal. While that cheap cap hit should be appealing to Detroit, it also carries the risk of sacrificing a haul for a rental.
However, general manager Steve Yzerman is growing increasingly desperate to return his beloved Red Wings to the playoffs (and beyond), and it would not be the least bit surprising to see him make an aggressive move.
Detroit has not made the postseason since 2016, and Yzerman enters a crucial year for the temperature of his seat.
