There’s a reason the Detroit Red Wings keep coming up in the Mason McTavish trade chatter — and it might have less to do with cap space or prospect depth and more to do with history.
Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman and his counterpart with the Anaheim Ducks, Pat Verbeek, go way back. The duo played together in Detroit from 1999 to 2001, then relied heavily on each other as trusted colleagues in front-office roles.
After their playing days, they reunited in the Red Wings’ front office from 2006 to 2010, with Yzerman serving as Vice President of Hockey Operations and Verbeek working as a pro scout. When Yzerman left to become GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010, Verbeek followed him, eventually rising from Director of Pro Scouting to Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel. Together, they helped shape the Lightning into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.
The two returned to Detroit in 2019, with Yzerman taking over as GM and Executive VP of Hockey Operations, and Verbeek serving as Assistant GM and GM of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Verbeek remained in that role until 2022, when he was hired as the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks.
Relationship Between GMs Could Facilitate Mason McTavish Trade to Red Wings
GettyAnaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish is a restricted free agent whose name has been swirling in trade rumors this summer.
Their front-office partnership spanned over a decade — built on shared vision and deep mutual trust — and that history could become a deciding factor in any serious trade conversations today. With McTavish reportedly drawing trade interest from around the league, the long-standing relationship between GMs is fueling speculation that Detroit could be in a uniquely strong position, as an unnamed NHL executive explained to RG.org.
“One team I keep hearing that has continued to show strong interest is the Detroit Red Wings,” the anonymous source stated. “Obviously there’s a history there with Pat [Verbeek] and Steve [Yzerman], and I really think Steve sees McTavish as a player that would clearly change the whole dynamic of his team up the middle there.”
At least four clubs are in the mix, per multiple reports, including the Canadiens, Flames, Senators, and Red Wings. However, Anaheim’s asking price remains, in a word, “significant.”
“Unless you’re willing to get creative and knock Pat’s socks off with a monster offer, I don’t see him getting traded at this point,” reported RG.org’s source. “A right-shot, top-four and future top-pairing defenseman would be the starting point from what I know.
And with McTavish still just 22 and climbing towards NHL superstar status after three full seasons, the Ducks have every reason to reject any trade offers. However, McTavish has reportedly grown unhappy with his changing role in Anaheim, and having recently completed his entry-level contract, the potential threat of an offer sheet lingers.
Mason McTavish Entices Potential Trade Partners With All-Around Game
It’s easy to understand why McTavish is drawing so much interest.
The No. 3 overall pick in 2021, McTavish has 140 points (60 goals, 80 assists) in 229 games. Last season, he led Anaheim with 22 goals and six power-play tallies, and he was second in overall scoring. He also had 70 hits and 38 penalty minutes, and on a team filled with negatives, McTavish finished the season at zero in the plus/minus category, while posting a 50.7 percent mark in face-offs.
Additionally, McTavish has proven to be a leader. He captained Team Canada to gold at the 2022 IIHF World Juniors and was named the tournament MVP.
For the Red Wings, adding McTavish would fill an obvious need behind Dylan Larkin and give Detroit a long-term, physically engaged two-way presence down the middle. And they could have the capital to make it work, with some speculation suggesting defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka could headline a package.
Certainly, the price would be steep, and it’s not clear yet whether Yzerman would meet it. But that’s where the Verbeek connection potentially becomes interesting.
Still, nothing is imminent. Anaheim hasn’t signaled that a trade is anything more than a pipe dream, and the front-office trust between GMs might only get Detroit so far.
But when multiple teams are circling, and a talented young center could be in play, even a small edge matters.
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