With the NHL’s salary cap ceiling rising again for the 2026-27 season, the expectation is that league’s trade market is where the most exciting action will occur this summer, rather than free agency. There simply aren’t as many high-end players becoming unrestricted free agents these days.
Now that the calendar has shifted into June, only one month remains until the chaos begins, and the chatter has started to ramp up surrounding which players could be on the trade block this offseason. One name that’s been consistently mentioned by NHL insiders/writers is Anaheim Ducks former first-round pick Mason McTavish, who’s less than one year removed from signing a six-year, $42 million extension with the club.
McTavish, 23, was the third overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft and produced a career-best 22 goals and 52 points with Anaheim in 2024-25, and he was rewarded for it with a long-term committment shortly before training camp begun last September. However, under new head coach Joel Quenneville this past season, McTavish’s offensive production declined (career-low 41 points), his ice time dipped (career-low 15:19 per game), and he ended up getting scratched twice in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It certainly wasn’t an ideal start to his new contract, and it could lead to a change-of-scenery transaction in the coming weeks.
Plus, for the second consecutive summer, the Ducks are about to dish out some serious coin, as standout forwards Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier need new contracts as restricted free agents. Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek might be looking to offload McTavish’s contract to free up more cap space and address other areas of need on the roster.
While he’s coming off a down season, McTavish’s age, size and skill combo, and controlled cost for the next six years will make him one of the more intriguing targets on the trade market this summer, should Anaheim truly be looking to move on. Last week, The Athletic’s Chris Johnston released his first trade offseason trade board, and McTavish was listed at No. 4. Johnston mentioned that there isn’t a sense of urgency for the Ducks to move on, but that hasn’t stopped other teams from trying.
In a separate column for The Athletic, insider Pierre LeBrun reported something similar last week. LeBrun stated that Verbeek might not be the one picking up the phone and shopping McTavish, but “multiple teams” have already inquired about his availability. Clubs believe he’s a legitimate reset candidate and can benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.
Now, could the Chicago Blackhawks and GM Kyle Davidson be one of those front offices reportedly checking in on McTavish? Davidson absolutely should be finding out the asking price, which still likely won’t be cheap, even if McTavish struggled this past season. Overall, the Blackhawks remain in need of more players with size and skill in their top-nine forward group, and McTavish provides that at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. He’s also a trusted face-off man for being so young, having won at least 48.3 percent of his draws in each of the last three years.
However, while McTavish’s controlled $7 million cap hit could be looked at as an asset for some teams moving forward, it would be somewhat of a gamble for Davidson to commit that money to him for the next six seasons. Sure, the Blackhawks have the money to afford McTavish, but they would likely want to commit that cap space towards a more trusted/proven commodity. Davidson has never been one to take on other teams “failed prospects” during his tenure, although that probably isn’t the proper terminology for McTavish’s sitation.
The Blackhawks want/NEED to make major strides in their rebuild next year, and while McTavish could be a solid fit on paper, it’s a lot of money and term for a player who’s coming off their worst season in the NHL. Plus, questions still loom about McTavish’s skating speed, and he was among the worst defensive players at even strength in 2025-26. There just seems to be too much risk.
In his latest mailbag column, Scott Powers of The Athletic was asked from a fan about whether Davidson targets McTavish this summer, while also pointing out an unfounded rumor about the Blackhawks making a run at him last summer as an RFA. Powers claims he hasn’t heard anything specific about McTavish, but adds that he fits the type of player the Hawks could use.
Davidson will be in the market for additional forward help this summer, but giving up assets — and likely prime ones, too — to bring in McTavish doesn’t make much sense in this situation. With six years left at that price tag, there’s too much that could go wrong to make this type of trade.
For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.
Follow us on X: