Mason McTavish's name is there, and a change of scenery might do him good
The Chris Johnston Show: Johnston and Julian McKenzie talk about Anaheim Ducks Mason McTavish having his name on the rumor mill. A change of scenery might do him good. There are concerns about McTavish, and prices are high, but he's only 23 and under contract for a while.
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Johnston: “Mason McTavish, so I mean, look, this season didn't go the way he or the Ducks wanted it to. He signed an extension, he missed part of training camp, he got paid too much, then he had a decline in offense and less time on the ice, and he was a little less healthy during the season, a couple of times during the playoffs.
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And certainly his name is out there, and you know, a fresh start would serve him well. You have to keep in mind about Anaheim, like they have to sign Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier getting up there. I mean, Anaheim has been this young team, and they're still a young team, but some of their players are moving into first-year guys and they're going to command the salary, so they have to manage the cap situation.
And you know, I think he's an interesting name, because he's so young, he's not that far from being a third baseman. Even though you're here now, you're not judging him for choosing a third overall, you're judging him for what he was as a professional.
You know, think that some of the concerns or issues in Anaheim with him were probably less concerns about his swing ability and speed, or lack thereof. You know, they're not always very careful on the ice, but you know, definitely teams, you know.
He was there, they were out there a little bit, the trade deadline, I would say, I don't know if anything was close, close, but there was, he was part of the negotiations at that time. And I think there's a little bit, I'd say it's been talked about at a higher level about, you know, where you're at now, and there's, you know, you've got some groups looking at whether that makes sense for them. “
McKenzie: “I know there are people in Ottawa, even last year, who were very interested in a local kid coming home.
Johnston: “I'm ashamed to say, I didn't know you were from Ottawa.”
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McKenzie: “Yes, I believe, if I, if memory serves, I believe that during his contract with Anaheim, he went back to Ottawa to skate.”
Johnston: “That's right.”
McKenzie: “That's what I miss, from last season.”
Johnston “Of course. I mean, we'll see. It won't be.. I'd probably like.. I'd say this to everyone on this board, but like, the prices are high, right?”
McKenzie: “They're going to go up.”
Johnston: “And the prices are high for a reason. Well. There aren't a lot of players available this offseason, right? And you know, we know there are a few notable UFAs. I think there's a ton of UFA depth. Don't get me wrong, I put out a 75-man roster this week, so there are players to sign.
But if you're looking for impactful additions to your team, there are only so many ways to get them, and trades are definitely the root this summer. And I think when you grab a player with a certain appeal, you naturally try to create a bidding war. You are trying to do an auction, find an auction go here and find out what you can do.
And I think it's double-dipped, because Mctavish's benefit would be that he's signed, right? And it's like if we're talking about Matthew Knies, which I think we're going to get to at some point here, you know, Knies, the benefit I would argue is that it costs certainty for whoever gets him.
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And he's buying his prime, as he's signed up to 20 years, so, you know, he's effectively buying upside down. And so even though he's coming off not his best year, certainly, as an NHL player, but you know, I think it was a challenging year in a lot of ways for McTavish personally. You are still buying a great estate at the end of the day. Maybe a little stress there, but come on, I think…”
McKenzie: “Early 20s.”
Johnston: “Logically, you'd bet that his 24 or 25 years of age will be better, no matter where it's played.” And if for some reason he doesn't end up being moved at all, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he has a good season in Anaheim, because at some point they're going to need him.
But you know, right now they're really listening to him, and because there are so few centers available, I think teams are, you know, twice as curious as to where the fit might be for him. “
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