Should the Maple Leafs Start a Retool with Struggling Ducks Star? – The Hockey Writers – Uncategorized
What happens in Toronto this offseason will be one of the NHL’s more intriguing storylines. There’s talk of changes at several positions, including with the roster, coaches, and management. The Leafs could make small moves, big changes, or overhaul the entire franchise after such a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
Should the Maple Leafs vote for big change, there’s a name in the Pacific Division that could, and maybe even should, attract their attention.
Could Mason McTavish Be Available?
What’s going on in Anaheim with Mason McTavish is also quite fascinating. Fresh off a new contract, he’s having a down season, and recent reports suggest the Ducks aren’t entirely sure what to do about it.
Elliotte Friedman writes in his latest 32 Thoughts column, “Mason McTavish was scratched again Wednesday as the Ducks lost 3-2 to Philadelphia in overtime. You can always rewrite your own narrative, and Anaheim has several big games to play yet this season.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Ducks are looking to flip him, but there are questions. Insiders like Friedman are wondering how much rope McTavish will get before the Ducks look to correct what might have been a mistake. Perhaps they’re realizing why they hesitated for so long before signing that deal.
While there is precedent for this sort of thing being fixed, Friedman adds that the McTavish situation feels different. He explains:
“Jeremy Swayman signed on Oct. 6, 2024, after a lengthy, bitter contract dispute and it played a big part in Boston’s season going sideways. But, with a summer of peace, Swayman showed up ready to go, and has been excellent, a huge part of the Bruins’ resurgence. McTavish signed Sept. 27, 2025, after a lengthy, bitter contract dispute and hasn’t been the same. The good news for the Ducks is they are in the race, allowing McTavish the chance to save this season. But I can’t help but wonder if he’s next year’s Swayman.”
Why the Maple Leafs and McTavish?
If McTavish is the kind of player who crumbles after getting a big deal, or sees the nice new contract as the finish line and not the starting point, it’s fair to argue that Toronto shouldn’t go near this player. However, there’s a case to be made that opportunity and circumstances are affecting his results more than anything else.
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This is still a relatively productive forward. He’s got 13 goals and 32 points in 61 games. By no means is this the step forward the Ducks were hoping he’d take, but it’s not the kind of production that screams huge overpay — at least not yet.
If the Ducks aren’t sure, trading him too early could be a mistake. McTavish could just be going through a lull, and in the right situation and on a roster that has time for him in a more elevated role, he could see his production surge again. Maybe he could be in Toronto, what Trevor Zegras has become in Philadelphia.
He’s a young top-six center. The Maple Leafs could use that. And, if for some reason things go sideways with Auston Matthews, it might be better to get ahead of the issue.
Why Not Toronto?
There are reasons to avoid this move, too. For all the good things McTavish can be, he’s also a slow skater, not great in transition, and he hasn’t figured out the defensive side of his game. He shows glimpses of something special, but there’s a lot of work to do with this player, and what the Maple Leafs don’t need is a one-dimensional player who doesn’t grind.
The Ducks aren’t likely to give him away, and the cost at $7 million is not to be taken lightly.
