Value of: Mason McTavish to Montreal

[FiveTacos]

This is one of those cases where breaking down splits and development tell more of a story than just looking at the counting stats...

McTavish had 16 points in 30 games from the start of the season through the end of 2024 on unsustainably cold 8.5% shooting.

In 2025, McTavish had 17 goals and 36 points in 46 games on very sustainable 14.1% shooting while earning a minute more of ice time per game as his game developed. Interestingly, all that extra ice time occurred at even strength, his PP time actually went down as his all-around game and scoring went way up. No PP heater mirages here.

McTavish is a guy primed for a big year given how his metrics and even strength quality improved over the season and with Cronin gone, expect an even bigger boost.

It's helpful to look at more than the NHL.com or EP scoring list. You can get a lot of insight by breaking down the composition of a player's season, especially a young player who is still developing. Ducks fans should be very bullish on the McTavish outlook for 2025-26. I think a 70-75 point season is very reasonable as he and Leo form a pretty ridiculous young 1-2 punch at center. In a world where hardly anybody is satisfied with their outlook down the middle, that's a premium position to be in.

Most notably, during his last 35 games he had 32 points. The year before he had a stretch at the beginning of the season with 21 points in his first 20 games. Those aren't stretches of 2C play, that's stretches where he looks like a 1C.

Now, does that mean he's ready to do that for 82 games? Probably not. But let's say, he ups it to a 50 or 60 game span at that level? I don't think anyone would be shocked. And yeah, that would probably end up a 70ish point season if he could do that.

Also notable that Carlsson had 29 in his last 30, Gauthier 22 in his last 30, and Zegras 19 in his last 27. I don't see why they'd want to mess with any of that right now.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I clearly meant mactavish I mean it's not like I alluded to his 52 pt career year or anything

Career year? He’s 22. Wording it like that is just disingenuous and obnoxious.

Your narrative would make more sense if you were talking about Marchment, tbh. He’s 29 and has a career high of 53 points. Thats what you’re acting like McTavish’s value is.

McTavish has two-way 1C upside, and already plays at a top-six level both offensively and defensively. I’m sorry, but that’s just overall more valuable than Caufield, and I say that as a Habs fan.

 

[lwvs84]

McTavish needs 6 more goals and 13 more points to match Caufield's age 23 season. An average power play and a better line could get him that. Plus he plays a more valuable position and is a bigger guy (something Verbeek values).

 

[TomKosto]

A few local rumors circulating about offer sheets. Anaheim has their 1C in Carlsson so I wonder what it would take to see McTavish moved.

It's hard to believe since Anaheim has tons of cap space but for the sake of indulgence, can some Anaheim fans chip in what they'd want from Montreal?

Theses are not rumors but one ex agent writing an idea on twitter. Sorry for yall Ducks fans, this was discussed for like 2weeks on our forum lmfao. It’s not happening.

 

[bud12]

McTavish needs 6 more goals and 13 more points to match Caufield's age 23 season. An average power play and a better line could get him that. Plus he plays a more valuable position and is a bigger guy (something Verbeek values).

So he needs 13 more pts to match a guy who was coming back from a big shoulder surgery with a astronomical low shooting % ?

 

[Sendhelp2Anaheim]

Career year? He’s 22. Wording it like that is just disingenuous and obnoxious.

Your narrative would make more sense if you were talking about Marchment, tbh. He’s 29 and has a career high of 53 points. Thats what you’re acting like McTavish’s value is.

McTavish has two-way 1C upside, and already plays at a top-six level both offensively and defensively. I’m sorry, but that’s just overall more valuable than Caufield, and I say that as a Habs fan.

Ya we’ll get a much clearer idea of what mctavish is this year, with a nhl system and hopefully nhl powerplay.

 

[DucksRoll]

Articles get written on nonsense like this because it's trade porn for fanbases. Deals like this basically never happen because it isn't realistic. Anaheim would have to be in cap hell, or McTavish would have to not fit our window, or we'd have to be significantly lower on him than Montreal. None of those are true, so arguing about what he's worth is pointless. The only way Anaheim trades him is if Montreal offers an overpay of talent - not picks. Montreal is in a similar position to Anaheim - maybe a year ahead - so this kind of deal makes no sense for them either.

 

[lwvs84]

So he needs 13 more pts to match a guy who was coming back from a big shoulder surgery with a astronomical low shooting % ?

OK, so you want to add context. Who's Caufield's most common linemates? They're probably better than Zegras/pre breakout Gauthier and Fabbri/Colangelo (Fabbri is the one that hurts his points)... and getting healthy only increased Caufield's points total by 5, but 9 more goals.
So McTavish has 2 seasons to go up 18 points to match this season's point total. He would need to increase by 15 goals to catch up, points are more likely than the goals.

 

[I am Canadian]

Dude is going to be menace in the playoffs. I don't see anything on Montreal's roster that would entice Anaheim.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Dude is going to be menace in the playoffs. I don't see anything on Montreal's roster that would entice Anaheim.

Lol, sure.

 

[Paradoxe]

Just KK OS him and let's have a laugh.

 

[Hockeyfan200]

Just KK OS him and let's have a laugh.

Montreal isn't going to do that and he's not signing for less than 11mil, maybe more which means four 1st round picks starting in 26

 

[Paradoxe]

Montreal isn't going to do that and he's not signing for less than 11mil, maybe more which means four 1st round picks starting in 26

1x$11,700,191 : Two firsts, one second, and one third. (one-year deal like KK) [Then in January, they sign him to 8X$8.5]

Either Anaheim match and screw their salary structure for future, either they let him walk.

 

[Gliff]

1x$11,700,191 : Two firsts, one second, and one third. (one-year deal like KK) [Then in January, they sign him to 8X$8.5]

Either Anaheim match and screw their salary structure for future, either they let him walk.

They match and then sign him long term next summer. They have the most cap space in the league. Idk how this is not computing.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

They match and then sign him long term next summer. They have the most cap space in the league. Idk how this is not computing.

Most cap space in the league and another 30M+ expiring over the next two off seasons (Trouba, Gibson, Gudas, Killorn, Strome). Only one contract over 5M that extends beyond two seasons (Terry's team friendly 7M). Also now have the richest owner in the league, who has stated budget will not be a concern. This is literally the single worst team to try and threaten with the idea of an offer sheet.

 

[Sendhelp2Anaheim]

Lol, sure.

In the realm of realistic…. There isn’t much Montreal would offer that would make sense for us.

Would being the key word

 

[Paradoxe]

They match and then sign him long term next summer. They have the most cap space in the league. Idk how this is not computing.

You guys only look in the short term, but now build the cap with all the youngsters when one of the groups accepts a higher cap. Even with the most cap space, the difficulty is to strap all the contracts into the targeted window. One wrong move and you're a leaf cap hell

 

[Paradoxe]

Most cap space in the league and another 30M+ expiring over the next two off seasons (Trouba, Gibson, Gudas, Killorn, Strome). Only one contract over 5M that extends beyond two seasons (Terry's team friendly 7M). Also now have the richest owner in the league, who has stated budget will not be a concern. This is literally the single worst team to try and threaten with the idea of an offer sheet.

And you will need to refill your whole roster ... The hardest part of a completed rebuild.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

And you will need to refill your whole roster ... The hardest part of a completed rebuild.

Well that's simply untrue, the Ducks will be well stocked at all positions including the most vital ones - already have their top 6 centers, Dmen, goalie of the future, along with some key wingers and several other young players looking like strong complimentary pieces. They definitely are not refilling an entire roster, will be more about deciding which pieces fit with this core they are building

 

[Sendhelp2Anaheim]

You guys only look in the short term, but now build the cap with all the youngsters when one of the groups accepts a higher cap. Even with the most cap space, the difficulty is to strap all the contracts into the targeted window. One wrong move and you're a leaf cap hell

I mean couldn’t the same be said for Montreal giving mason 11 +?

 

[Gliff]

You guys only look in the short term, but now build the cap with all the youngsters when one of the groups accepts a higher cap. Even with the most cap space, the difficulty is to strap all the contracts into the targeted window. One wrong move and you're a leaf cap hell

It’s one year. They wouldn’t sign him long term at that.

This is getting annoying. Any reason they is wouldn’t match is a reason Montreal wouldn’t offersheat him.

 

[Sendhelp2Anaheim]

It’s one year. They wouldn’t sign him long term at that.

This is getting annoying. Any reason they is wouldn’t match is a reason Montreal wouldn’t offersheat him.

If Montreal thinks giving MM 11+ mil offersheet is a good idea I’m scared to think what type of money they think Demidov and Hutson will get

 

[lakeshirts37]

An internal cap allocation still exists even if you're spending to the cap in order to maintain a balanced contract structure. We have one in Montreal where most Fs are taking the Suzuki contract as the upper limit. It's about spending wisely.

There's only so many players you can pay 10M+ to before you become Toronto.

Anaheim has zero issues with the cap

 

[jfhabs]

Career year? He’s 22. Wording it like that is just disingenuous and obnoxious.

Your narrative would make more sense if you were talking about Marchment, tbh. He’s 29 and has a career high of 53 points. Thats what you’re acting like McTavish’s value is.

McTavish has two-way 1C upside, and already plays at a top-six level both offensively and defensively. I’m sorry, but that’s just overall more valuable than Caufield, and I say that as a Habs fan.

Upside vs proven tho

Caufield scored 40 this year , including 3 playoff goals in 5 games. I agree with the upside of McTavish and would consider trade Caufield for him, but right now it wouldn't be a trade we add to Caufield, let alone 1st round picks.

 

[FiveTacos]

I mean couldn’t the same be said for Montreal giving mason 11 +?

Well apparently the reasoning is that McTavish would be willing to play for the Habs at 8.5, but only at 11+ for the Ducks.

The other thing with these 1x11 proposals for McTavish or Knies or whoever, there seems to be this misunderstanding of what the Kotkaniemi situation was. When he signed a 1x6, he was probably looking at a 2-3 year bridge deal for around 6-8m. So by taking the offer sheet he really left nothing on the table; even if everything went wrong after that year and he was stuck on a minimum deal after that (unlikely) he would still come out of it a few years later with at least as much if not more money.

But guys like McTavish or Knies, in taking a 1x11, would potentially be leaving tens of millions on the table if things go south. That ain't happening.