Elliotte Friedman Reveals Real Reason for Continued Mason McTavish Stalemate in Anaheim

There have been plenty of rumors leaking out surrounding the impasse between restricted free agent Mason McTavish and the Anaheim Ducks. They range from there being a 'sizeable gap' in numbers, to the talks being 'in a tough place.' And we do know that the player has gone home and is in Ottawa skating with the junior 67s.

But amidst all that information and innuendo, insider Elliotte Friedman told the crew at NHL Network that the stalemate, in its most basic form, really comes down to this:

(Ducks GM) Pat Verbeek? Tough player, tough negotiator. Jeff Soloman, who does the contracts for the Ducks? Tough negotiator. Pat Morris, (agent) who represents McTavish? Tough negotiator. There's a lot of grinders in this negotiation.

It seems pretty clear that neither side is going to back down easily. Neither side wants to be the first to blink.

Friedman notes that comparable contracts signed by RFAs this summer include Matthew Knies ($7.75M AAV with Toronto Maple Leafs), JJ Peterka ($7.7M AAV with Utah Mammoth), and Wyatt Johnston ($8.4M AAV with Dallas Stars). The Ducks, however, according to fellow insider David Pagnotta, have been holding the line at a five-year offer worth around $5.5M AAV.

AFP Analytics, at the beginning of the offseason, projected McTavish at a $6.77M AAV on a longer-term (six-year) deal.

Friedman also reiterates that the Ducks aren't interested in doing a bridge deal, they want to lock him in on a long-term contract.

And for teams still hoping that the Ducks might throw up their hands and trade the promising youngster? "I've heard that Verbeek has been extremely reluctant, if not outright refusing to trade McTavish," said Friedman, "because there would be a ton of interest."

McTavish, the team's second-line center, posted career highs in his third NHL season last year with Anaheim, with 22 goals, 30 assists and 52 points in 76 games, with an average ice time of 16:53 per night.