- Darren Dreger says he believes Mason McTavish gets moved this summer
- Kevin Weekes reports teams are calling on the 23-year-old Ducks center
- Read below for the rumored Blues package and where McTavish could land
The Mason McTavish trade talk just got louder.
Darren Dreger said this week he expects the Anaheim Ducks center to be traded, the latest sign that one of the more interesting names of the offseason is in play.
Dreger was asked about possible fits for McTavish during a TSN radio hit.
“I’m in the belief that Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks is going to be traded,” Dreger said, adding there’s “definitely a lot of chatter” around the league.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes is hearing the same thing:
McTavish is 23 and just a year into a six-year, $42 million extension that carries a $7 million cap hit. His production dipped this past season after a career-best year, and reports of friction over playing time and a messy contract negotiation have trailed him for a while.
This isn’t fresh ground for Anaheim. The Ducks made McTavish available earlier this month, per Pierre LeBrun.
There was almost a bigger swing, too. Dreger said a larger deal was discussed that would have sent McTavish to St. Louis, with Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko potentially involved. Thomas is reportedly off the table now.
Detroit keeps coming up as a fit. The Red Wings have the young assets and the cap room to make a real push for a center who still has term and upside.
Montreal is the other one to watch. The Canadiens need a second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, and McTavish carries no trade protection, which makes him easier to pry loose.
Take a look at what Anaheim would be giving up:
The draft and free agency are days away. If Dreger is right, McTavish won’t be wearing a Ducks sweater for much longer.
