NHL Trade Rumors: Mason McTavish Strongly Linked To Red Wings

Ducks RFA Mason McTavish has been linked to the Red Wings

Mason McTavish is one of the top restricted free agents still without a contract as we head deeper into the dog days of August. The Anaheim Ducks, for some reason, are playing hardball with the young center on a new deal, and rival teams are sniffing around.

An NHL executive tells James Murphy in rg.org that the long-standing relationship between two general managers could land McTavish with the Detroit Red Wings.

One team I keep hearing that has continued to show strong interest is the Detroit Red Wings. Obviously there’s a history there with (Ducks GM) Pat (Verbeek) and (Wings GM) Steve (Yzerman), and I really think Steve sees McTavish as a player that would clearly change the whole dynamic of his team up the middle there.

Verbeek and Yzerman have been inextricably linked throughout their post-playing careers, though the partnership actually started for two years as teammates playing together on the Red Wings from 1999 through 2001.

Following Stevie Y's retirement, they worked together in Detroit in the hockey operations department for four years from 2006 through 2010. From there, the two spent eight more years together with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and then again in the Detroit front office for three years from 2019 to 2022, until Verbeek took his first GM role with Anaheim, where he currently resides.

As for McTavish, he was drafted third overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by Verbeek's predecessor with the Ducks, Bob Murray.

He is a valued young center around the league, and Yzerman and the Wings are among his top suitors, as the Ducks try to figure out how to move forward with the talented 22-year-old.

OH, MASON MCTAVISH!! 🥵

That was absolutely gross. pic.twitter.com/4KHDfm2eEi
— NHL (@NHL) April 2, 2025

Some have wondered whether there'd be an offer sheet coming for McTavish, but the Ducks have more than enough room under the cap to match any offer, and allowing him to go for draft pick compensation is not something they're interested in, as the Ducks are looking to take the next step forward this season into the playoffs, not accumulate more draft assets.

McTavish notched a career-high 22 goals and 52 points last season, in 16:53 average ice time per night.

Slotting him into the Red Wings lineup as the second-line center would be a huge boost for Yzerman's top six.

But Verbeek has set a very high asking price in any trade for his young pivot, so a trade with the Red Wings, or any other team, still feels unlikely.