Ducks’ McTavish sits out training camp, skates with Ottawa 67’s amid contract stalemate
A key piece to the Anaheim Ducks’ future isn’t with the team quite yet.
As the team’s training camp opened up on Thursday, forward Mason McTavish is not in Anaheim. Instead, the restricted free agent is skating with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
With training camp on-ice sessions beginning today, Mason McTavish is skating with the OHL’s Ottawa 67s
The contract stalemate continues in Anaheim. It’s believed the Ducks prefer not to do a bridge, but no common ground yet
Friedman reports that the contract stalemate comes from the Ducks not wanting to sign McTavish to a bridge contract, preferring to keep the young and talented center on the books long-term.
McTavish, who was born in Switzerland but grew up in Ottawa, came to the end of his three-year, entry-level contract last season. The deal had a cap hit of $894,167, but had an AAV of $3,394,167 due to $2.5 million in performance bonuses.
The absence of McTavish in Orange County creates a lot of noise for a team that is trying to make strides in the Pacific Division. While the Ducks as a whole have been mediocre, at best, during his time with the franchise, McTavish has been one of the team’s top performers. After a respectable rookie season that saw him score 43 points, the former Brantford Bulldog finished third on the team in scoring in 2023-24.
This past season, McTavish led Anaheim with 22 goals, finishing second behind Troy Terry with 52 points in 76 games.
McTavish is one of the rising stars that the Ducks hope can lead the franchise to a brighter future. With players like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Olen Zellweger, Anaheim has a foundation for a talented core in the near future…if McTavish signs that is.
In 229 NHL appearances, McTavish has scored 60 goals and 80 assists for 140 points.