Two NHL sources have confirmed to Murphy’s Hockey Law that the Montreal Canadiens have once again inquired with the Anaheim Ducks on the trade availability of center Mason McTavish.

“They circled back and called on him,” one of the sources told MHL recently. “I don’t think it’s at the point of serious discussions or exchanging trade scenarios but the Habs let it be known they’re still interested.”

The second source confirmed that and while he also confirmed that a trade return for McTavish had not been discussed, he believes the starting point for the Ducks would be Canadiens top prospect and University of Michigan center Michael Hage.

“I would think any discussion is starting with Hage,” the source opined.

Again, at this point, that is just this source’s opinion not fact.

The Canadiens’ interest doesn’t come as a surprise given what was reported here last month.

“I was told that when Mason McTavish was going through that contract battle and sat out part of camp before signing last September, the Canadiens made it clear they were willing dance partners if Verbeek wanted to trade him,” an NHL source told Murphy’s Hockey Law on May 24th.

At the time, the Canadiens had their fan base buzzing and the NHL taking notice that the Jeff Gorton-Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis Canadiens era had arrived.

“There’s a lot of us wondering if say, they get to the Final and fall just short of winning it all, how much does that accelerate their process now?” the same NHL source opined then.

“Even if they lose to the Canes in six or seven games, that’s still further than even they likely projected to be right now. That city, the fans, they just realized how good this team already is and they’ve gotten a hell of a ride. They’re going to want more and want it now. In my opinion, they’re aren’t many other teams positioned to attack what’s going to be an active trade market this offseason. I could see them circling back on McTavish.”

The Montreal Canadiens went on to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games but Gorton and Hughes made it clear in their end of the season presser that the team needs to build off this run, get better and utilize the NHL trade market to do so.

Remember, coming off a first round exit to the Washington Capitals in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Canadiens made a huge NHL trade splash at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Habs acquired defenseman Noah Dobson in exchange for two 2025 first-round picks (16th and 17th overall) and forward Emil Heineman. Dobson also signed an eight-year, $76 million ($9.5MAAV) contract extension

The now 23-year-old McTavish, whom the Ducks drafted third overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft did not report to training camp last September due to a contract stalemate with Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek. The team and McTavish eventually agreed on a six-year, $42 million ($7M AAV) contract. 

However, McTavish and the team did not see the contract bump on the ice that they hoped for as McTavish struggled with just 17 goals and 24 assists in 75 games. That was eleven points less than last season when he had 22 goals and 30 assists in 76 games. As a result McTavish found himself a healthy scratch at times down the stretch and also in the playoffs.

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