Ducks Rumors: 4 Teams Listed as Offer Sheet Threats for Mason McTavish

Could Mason McTavish be offer sheeted this summer?

The Anaheim Ducks are dragging their feet on getting a new contract done for restricted free agent Mason McTavish. Would the team really move on from the up-and-coming center, the former 3rd overall pick in the NHL Draft (2021)?

According to NHL Insider Frank Seravalli of Bleacher Report, McTavish is a "name to watch" this summer. "I think it's been a tough go for McTavish in Anaheim... I view him as a bit of a depressed asset. A really solid player that has been beaten down by a lot of losses in Anaheim... I think a change of scenery would be good for him... Some teams have tried to work on what an offer sheet would look like."

Any offer sheet that comes in at up to a $7.02 million AAV would cost the signing team their first and third round picks in next year's draft as compensation if the Ducks don't match. Anyting that comes in above that would cost a first, second and third round pick.

Further to that, Shayna Goldman in The Athletic has listed four teams that have those picks to spare (in the $7M and under scenario) to be offer sheet threats for the Ducks & McTavish:

For some eligible teams, such as the Canadiens, Bruins, Flames and Red Wings, it’s worth throwing a dart this summer...

Each of Montreal, Boston, Calgary and Detroit are looking for a boost in their top-six. We should note, however, that neither Montreal nor Boston have the cap space at the moment to offer McTavish a salary in that range. Perhaps other moves will be made to free up the room.

It's worth noting that the Ducks do have $21.3 million in cap room. Even if a team threw a long-term offer at McTavish in that range, they could match if they wanted to. But as Goldman also notes:

The Ducks may not want to make a commitment of that magnitude just yet. McTavish hasn’t established himself as a true top-six center yet...(and)... management still may not want to clog up the books too early with a hefty McTavish extension.

Some teams might argue with Goldman's assessment that he hasn't quite established himself as a true top-six center. This past year, he set career highs with 22 goals, 30 assists and 52 points, all in just 16:53 of average ice time per night.

The 22-year-old from Switzerland has improved in each of his three NHL seasons, and in his final year in junior hockey in 2022, he led the Hamilton Bulldogs to the OHL title, with 16 goals and 29 points in 19 playoff games, after posting 40 points in 24 regular season games with a plus/minus rating of +27.