The Montreal Canadiens need a second-line center.
Nick Suzuki has secured the first-line center position and led the team with 89 points. Heavy.com has proposed a deal that would see the Canadiens secure a second-line center from the Anaheim Ducks in young forward Mason McTavish.
Canadiens Acquire:
- Mason McTavish
Ducks Acquire:
- Josh Anderson
- Mike Matheson
This blockbuster trade could work out well for both teams. The Ducks acquire a veteran forward who can add to the team’s depth. They also add a veteran defender who can bring an experienced presence to the left side.
The Canadiens would love to add a player like Anthony Cirelli, a strong two-way center. However, adding McTavish could be a more effective and achievable long-term solution. Seeing two veterans traded for a young player is a move hardly seen in the modern NHL.
Mason McTavish “More Available Than Ever”
NHL insider Jeff Marek was on the Vancouver Canucks-centric Sekeres & Price Show a couple of weeks earlier in July. When discussing a potential center option for the Canucks, Marek brought up a theory that might help facilitate a McTavish trade.
“I would not be surprised by anything that Pat Verbeek (Ducks GM) does right now,” Marek revealed. “Not that necessarily the heat is on for the Anaheim Ducks. I think this is the first year where it’s like, ‘okay, you’ve been in the job for 3.5 years now…let’s start to see something here.’”
“That’s why the Trouba deal, the Kreider deal, and the Granlund contract. That’s why you’re starting to see the Anaheim Ducks be a little bit more aggressive, to try to make sure they can at least be a Wild Card team in the Western Conference.”
Marek goes on to talk directly about McTavish and a couple of potential suitors for the young forward.
“It’s probably the most that Mason McTavish has been available,” Marek told the hosts. “And if he is available, start the lineup of teams that are looking for a second-line center, whether it’s Minnesota or Montreal.”
Giving the Ducks an Offer They Can’t Refuse
The Ducks currently have just over $21 million in cap space to facilitate a trade. By sending the Ducks Mike Matheson and Josh Anderson, they offload $10.375 million.
Matheson would add stability to the left side of their defence. Currently, the oldest left-handed blueliner they have is 24-year-old Jackson LaCombe. The 31-year-old veteran can add offense and puck-moving ability to the Ducks’ blueline, as evidenced by his 31-point 2024-25 season.
Anderson should fit right in with the type of players that Verbeek has been acquiring over the last few years. The additions of Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas make the Ducks a more physical team. Anderson has averaged over two hits per game for the last seven years, proving he’s not afraid of physical contact.
McTavish Wants Deal Canadiens Can Afford
At the time of this writing, McTavish is an unsigned RFA. The 23-year-old is coming off his ELC and is looking for a decent pay increase.
According to Ben Kuzma of The Province, McTavish’s camp is looking for a deal in the $7-to-$8 million range. AFP Analytics projects McTavish’s next deal landing around $6.77 million for six years.
If McTavish is traded to the Canadiens and signs a deal between $6.77 and $8 million, that would make him one of the top five paid players on the team. Suzuki, Patrik Laine, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky all make between $8.7 and $7.6 million.
McTavish is a Great Fit With the Young Canadiens’ Core
McTavish is coming off the best season of his young NHL career. He recorded 52 points in 76 games, which was the second-most on the Ducks.
He spent almost 37 percent of his ice time on a line with Robby Fabbri and Cutter Gauthier or Trevor Zegras and Sam Colangelo. Except for the 29-year-old Fabbri, these are all young players.
The 23-year-old would instantly become the Canadiens’ second-line center. He would likely skate on a line with Brendan Gallagher and Ivan Demidov.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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