Out of the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge: Canadiens Pre-Draft Edition

By JD Lagrange – Out of the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge: The week’s hot topics, served without sugar-coating or concern for bruised feelings. This week, we dive into the trade rumour mill and one of the most misunderstood players currently being linked to the Montreal Canadiens.

Where there’s smoke, there’s often fire. Looking west toward Anaheim these days, based on rumours alone, you’d think the Honda Center was sending out alarm bells.

One of the names that continues to surface in trade discussions is 23-year-old centre Mason McTavish. Selected third overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, McTavish arrived with enormous expectations. While he hasn’t yet developed into the superstar some projected on draft day, he now finds himself in an interesting situation within an organization loaded with young talent, where a few emerging players have begun climbing the depth chart.

That reality, however, should not distract from what McTavish has already become.

The 6-foot-1, 219-pound power forward recorded six points in ten playoff games this spring before Anaheim was eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. Not exactly earth-shattering numbers, but playoff hockey has never been solely about points. It is often about winning battles, creating space, wearing down opponents and making life miserable for the other team. McTavish checks plenty of those boxes.

Yet among portions of the Canadiens fan base, and even some media personalities, the reaction to his name has been surprisingly dismissive. The criticism usually centres around two themes: his skating and the fact that he hasn’t “broken through” offensively at the NHL level. For some, that is enough to cross him off the list of potential solutions at second-line centre.

The irony is that many of the loudest critics are probably fast asleep when Anaheim drops the puck at 10:00 or 10:30 Eastern. For those who haven’t spent much time watching Ducks games, here is what the scouting reports actually say.

Offensive Strengths: He’s a pure goal scorer who boasts an accurate, powerful wrist shot and an elite release. His high hockey IQ and ability to find soft spots in the slot make him an excellent net-front presence and powerplay asset.
Skating & Movement: McTavish accelerates well with a strong first step, but his shorter stride limits his top-end speed. He uses his frame very effectively to shield the puck and win battles in the corners.
Defensive & Physical Game: He has a reliable defensive mind, working hard on the backcheck and supporting the defense down low. He brings “heavy” elements to his game, frequently initiating contact and frustrating opposing defenders.
Play Style: While he is viewed more as a highly effective complementary piece than a definitive, franchise-driving #1 center, his gritty, two-way power-forward profile is exactly the type of game that translates well to playoffs’ success.

When I watch McTavish, I see shades of a young Ryan O’Reilly.

Interestingly, O’Reilly spent much of his career carrying the same label McTavish does today. Too slow. Not dynamic enough. Not flashy enough. Yet season after season, O’Reilly continued producing, winning puck battles, shutting down opponents and helping teams win meaningful games. At 35 years old, he still posted 25 goals and 74 points while averaging over 20 minutes per game last season.

The comparison becomes even more interesting when looking at their early NHL careers. Through their first 304 regular-season games, McTavish actually holds the statistical edge.

Numbers never tell the whole story, but they certainly challenge the narrative that McTavish has somehow underachieved.

Former Canadien’s GM and President of Hockey Operations Marc Bergevin often spoke about two different types of players. There are players who help you make the playoffs, and there are players who help you win once you get there.

Much like O’Reilly, McTavish falls into the second category.

His game may never generate the nightly highlight reels of a franchise superstar, but when the ice gets smaller, the checking gets tighter and every shift matters, his value tends to rise. Those players are not always easy to find.

If Kent Hughes ever manages to pry McTavish away from Anaheim, the Canadiens would be acquiring a left-handed centre who fits perfectly within the age of the team’s core, brings size, skill, physicality and a proven willingness to play hard hockey. In other words, he checks a lot of boxes for a team still looking for answers behind Nick Suzuki.

And perhaps most importantly, he possesses the kind of game that usually becomes more valuable in May than it does in January.

RAPID FIRE

📌 One of the ongoing debates among Canadiens fans is whether management should spend assets to improve the roster now or simply remain patient and wait for prospects such as Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky to arrive. The answer depends entirely on the player being acquired. Kent Hughes has consistently stated that he has no interest in sacrificing the future for short-term gain. However, if an opportunity presents itself to acquire a player who can help both now and five years from now, as the Canadiens did with Noah Dobson, then the equation changes considerably. After all, why spend the next two or three seasons waiting for prospects to develop when Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are already entering some of the most productive years of their careers?

📌 According to Daily Faceoff, the Canadiens are currently viewed as the odds-on favourites to land McTavish should Anaheim decide to move him this summer. 

📌 Last week, we took an in-depth look at several potential centre options for Montreal, including a detailed comparison involving McTavish and how he stacks up against other candidates.

📌 The trade rumours surrounding Anaheim continue to intensify. As colleague Jimmy Murphy reported this past week, the Ducks are aggressively pursuing Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, with McTavish believed to be one of the key pieces involved in any potential deal. The latest information suggests Larkin is not particularly enthusiastic about the idea of relocating to Anaheim, but the situation remains fluid.

📌 Meanwhile, my colleague Nick Lariviere recently examined potential trade destinations for Samuel Montembeault. Given Edmonton’s ongoing search for affordable goaltending help, it would not be surprising to see the Oilers emerge as a serious contender should Montreal decide to explore that route.

📌 When discussing trades, fans often fall into the trap of believing quantity can replace quality. Unfortunately, NHL general managers rarely see it that way. The old saying about paying the piper remains as true in hockey as it is anywhere else. If you want a quality player, you must be prepared to part with quality assets. The Canadiens possess one area of undeniable organizational strength: left-shot defensemen. Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj all spent the season in Montreal, while Adam Engström is viewed by many as NHL-ready. Several other promising prospects continue to develop throughout the system.

That depth creates options, but it does not change reality. Acquiring an established impact player will require more than offering Struble, Xhekaj, Kirby Dach and a collection of spare parts. Nick Lariviere recently explored the possibility of Kaiden Guhle being used as a trade chip, a discussion that quickly becomes complicated when considering that Guhle is one of the few Canadiens defensemen who combines top-four ability with a consistently physical presence.

📌 Another name worth monitoring is Ducks captain Radko Gudas. Kevin Weekes recently reported that interest in the veteran blueliner is growing around the league. On a personal note, I have little interest in seeing Gudas in a Canadiens uniform. If Montreal is going to spend assets to strengthen the right side of its defence, I would rather see them pay a little more for someone like Jacob Trouba. The Canadiens’ greatest need is not another third-pairing defenseman. It is a legitimate top-four right-shot partner capable of handling heavy minutes alongside Lane Hutson. Asking Alexandre Carrier or Gudas to fill that role on a full-time basis feels more like a compromise than a solution. 

With the NHL Draft and free agency approaching, the rumour mill is only beginning to warm up. Be sure to bookmark The Sick Podcast for the latest news, trade rumours, analysis, podcasts and exclusive features as what promises to be a fascinating summer unfolds.