The Detroit Red Wings have wanted to make a major splash this summer. Detroit hoped to add talent to its roster in order to better their chances of making the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. To this point in the offseason, however, this move has not come to pass.
The Red Wings have certainly made notable moves. For instance, they traded for veteran goaltender John Gibson in a deal with the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson is certainly an upgrade for Detroit in goal. And if he performs well, he should give this team a chance at playoff contention.
However, the remainder of their moves have mostly been for depth purposes. James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, and Jacob Bernard-Docker signed contracts with the Red Wings in NHL Free Agency. These players should give Detroit value in their roles throughout the 2025-26 season, but they aren’t star-level talents.
A recent report from RG.org contributor James Murphy has brought up speculation that a big move could be coming. Murphy reported that Detroit is one team showing significant interest in star Ducks center Mason McTavish.
Detroit is certainly a fantastic landing spot for McTavish. He gives the Red Wings an immediate second-line center who could reach 90-point territory very soon. However, at this point in time, this is a trade the Red Wings should avoid making.
Mason McTavish Trade Cost Will Be Extremely High
Sean M. Haffey/Getty ImagesThe Detroit Red Wings are a good fit for Mason McTavish, but the asking price is too much.
The Red Wings should be willing to give up picks and prospects in trades. Detroit has not made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in nearly a whole decade. They have come close, especially in 2024 when they missed by virtue of a tiebreaker.
If McTavish were going for a package of futures, this deal makes more than enough sense. However, the young Ducks star is almost certainly not going to be traded for futures. If he’s being dealt, it’s going to take elite young players and/or roster players.
Detroit has some roster players it would be willing to trade. However, they aren’t keen on moving the ones it’d take to intrigue Anaheim. Marco Kasper, Simon Edvinsson, and Lucas Raymond are all off limits. Albert Johansson could be a piece in this deal, but the Ducks would need a lot more.
This brings us to names such as Carter Mazur, Nate Danielson, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka. These are players who are close to being NHL-ready. And they figure to be important parts of Detroit’s future. However, these are names the Red Wings should not be moving unless the trade makes perfect sense.
Red Wings Are Still Far Off From Stanley Cup Contention
McTavish certainly raises the competitive level for Detroit. A top-six of him, Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, Marco Kasper, and Patrick Kane is very promising. However, the Red Wings still aren’t Stanley Cup contenders even with this group.
Detroit’s depth still needs work, and its defense isn’t great outside of Edvinsson and Moritz Seider. A McTavish trade could cut into their defensive depth. And it would remove important long-term pieces that could similarly raise the competitive level in Detroit.
The Ducks have little reason or motivation to trade McTavish. He is an unsigned restricted free agent, but Anaheim took a major leap in 2024-25. And it’s no stretch to believe they can do it again this upcoming season. Anaheim is going to ask for a king’s ransom, and it’s not smart for Detroit to be the team paying up at this time.
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