Ducks Still Think Highly Of Mason McTavish

Mason McTavish is one of the RFAs that are still unsigned and he is currently skating with the Ottawa 67's as training camps around the NHL have opened. He was arguably the best player on the Anaheim Ducks last season and absolutely has to be brought back.

Eric Stephens said, "The Ducks have no desire to move their tank-like pivot. The belief is that Verbeek has a surer view of McTavish being part of Anaheim's core...than he thought about (Trevor) Zegras."

Zegras was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and after very good first two seasons in the NHL, injuries hurt his production and his trajectory. McTavish is a better all around player that has done more with what he has been consistently getting better. The Ducks aren't the highest scoring team...yet, but McTavish will be a part of that and is a legitimate second line center to complement Leo Carlsson, who the Ducks have very high hopes for.

McTavish had 22 goals and 52 points last season, both career highs in his third NHL season. He hits and is over 50% in the faceoff circle, but his ice time absolutely needs to rise from under 17 minutes per game. Apparently the team and player aren't on the same page regarding money and term, but I think the Ducks should have more pressure on them to fold and get a deal done. They made additions and look primed to compete for a playoff spot this season. The team has plenty of money and if McTavish is seen as a core piece, then he deserves term and money and the Ducks shouldn't be so stingy.

McTavish was drafted third overall and while the progression is a little slower than some others in recent memory drafted in the same spot, he is going to continue to be a threat. Even with Beckett Sennecke and Roger McQueen coming soon, McTavish has a place in the top-6 and on the power play. It is only going to hurt the Ducks' chances of starting strong and making the playoffs the longer McTavish is away from the team.