McTavish's Market Price Inflates as Ducks Field Trade Interest

Mason McTavish's name is actively circulating in trade discussions as Anaheim tests the market for its 23-year-old center. Per reporting from The Chris Johnston Show, multiple teams—including Ottawa, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh—have expressed curiosity about the former third-overall pick. But Ducks GM Bob Murray isn't moving fast or cheap. McTavish underperformed this season, dealing with offensive decline and reduced ice time, even drawing healthy scratches during the regular season and playoffs. A change of scenery may help, but Anaheim holds leverage.

The Ducks face a cap crunch. Leo Carlsson needs a new deal. Cutter Gauthier's contract demands are climbing. McTavish, who signed an extension after missing part of training camp, no longer fits the timeline or budget. The organization has legitimate concerns—scouts point to skating limitations and inconsistent positional awareness as persistent weaknesses, not one-year flukes. Yet McTavish remains young and controllable on his contract, making him a reclamation project with upside rather than a salary dump.

What's driving the price premium isn't McTavish's play; it's the barren free-agent class. Impactful forwards are scarce this offseason. Teams needing depth have limited options beyond the trade market, and when you own a player with any appealing attributes—age, contract control, NHL pedigree—you get to run an auction. Johnston noted that Anaheim is actively leveraging scarcity to inflate the bid. McTavish was already part of discussions at the trade deadline; now, with playoff film in the books and teams' cap situations clear, the conversations have intensified.

For bettors, this context matters. If McTavish lands with Ottawa or another Eastern Conference contender, his role and deployment change drastically. Ottawa has a local tie—McKenzie noted McTavish skated back home during last year's contract dispute—and would likely slot him into a higher-leverage position than he occupied in Anaheim. A fresh system, new linemates, and increased ice time would expand his assist floor and potential total-points output. Early preseason prop lines for McTavish's 2026-27 season will likely anchor to his 2025-26 baseline (depressed by Anaheim's dysfunction and his reduced minutes), creating an edge for buyers if he lands with a team that uses him as a primary contributor. The key: confirm the trade destination and role before locking in any season-long prop. A move to a non-playoff team won't move the needle. A move to a contender with positional need could justify a 12-15% uptick in points projections relative to where the market initially prices him.

Anaheim's refusal to negotiate aggressively on price suggests they're comfortable holding McTavish into camp if bids don't materialize. That's a risk signal. If no deal happens before training camp, his market cooling could deflate offseason speculation—and his prop values—within weeks. The narrative momentum only sustains if a trade lands before July.