When the NHL off-season gets this quiet, you learn to listen for the faintest whispers. Right now, the scuttlebutt connecting unsigned RFA Mason McTavish to the Philadelphia Flyers is getting too loud to ignore. Let’s be clear: this isn’t just smoke. Where there’s a history of deals and a clear overlap of need and availability, there’s a potential fire.
Flyers GM Danny Briere and Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek already have each other on speed dial after the Cutter Gauthier-for-Jamie Drysdale blockbuster and the more recent Trevor Zegras deal. Is a third major transaction in the works? All signs are pointing toward a very real possibility.
Why a McTavish Trade to the Philadelphia Flyers Makes Too Much Sense
From my perspective, this potential deal is a perfect storm of logic. Let’s start with Anaheim. As good as McTavish is—a 22-year-old, top-six center with grit and scoring touch—the Ducks have their undisputed future No. 1 center in Leo Carlsson. They just committed three years to veteran Mikael Granlund, who can easily slot in as a capable 2C. This gives Anaheim the rare leverage to trade a young, high-end pivot from a position of strength to address other needs. They don’t have to trade McTavish, but they are one of the few teams that could without blowing a hole in their long-term plans.
Now, look at Philadelphia. The Flyers are starved for young, top-tier talent down the middle. While Sean Couturier is the captain and a respected veteran, his best days are as a shutdown 3C on a contending team. McTavish wouldn’t just be another piece in Philly; he’d have the inside track to become the long-term 1C they’ve been searching for. He fits the age timeline of their rebuild perfectly and would create a formidable young core alongside Zegras, Matvei Michkov, Oliver Bonk, and former Ducks teammate Jamie Drysdale.
So, What’s the Price?
Here’s the rub. My sources indicate the Ducks’ starting point is significant, likely revolving around 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko and a 2026 first-round pick. It’s a steep price, to be sure, but it’s the cost of business for a player of McTavish’s caliber and potential. For a rebuilding team like the Flyers, accumulating high-end talent is the name of the game, and sometimes you have to pay a premium to acquire a foundational piece who is already NHL-proven. This is a rumor that has legs, and one we should all be watching very closely.
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The post Another Ducks Star to the Flyers? Analyzing the Mason McTavish Trade Rumors appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
