The Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks earlier this offseason made a trade, sending John Gibson to Detroit in exchange for Petr Mrazek and draft picks. The relationship between Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman and Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek could make another trade happen. The two played on the Red Wings from 1999-2001. They also worked together in hockey operations with the Red Wings from 2006-2010. Yzerman, when he went to Tampa Bay, brought Verbeek with him and made him the Director of Pro scouting for two seasons, then promoted him to Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel. The two reunited again in 2019 when Yzerman became the Red Wings’ General Manager and Vice President of Hockey Operations. Yzerman made Verbeek the Assistant General Manager and the General Manager of the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins until the Ducks hired him in 2022.
The Red Wings are reportedly linked to Ducks forward Mason McTavish. The Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes are also reportedly in on McTavish. The Ducks are still trying to sign McTavish, but that’s not stopping teams from still checking in on the 22-year-old forward. If the Red Wings were to make a move for McTavish, they’d have to come up with a package that blows Verbeek away, maybe parting with a defensive prospect, someone along the lines of Axel Sandin-Pellikka. McTavish, in 76 games this past season, had 52 points on 22 goals and 30 assists. He was even in plus/minus with six power-play goals, two game-winning goals, and 38 penalty minutes.
Mason McTavish
The Ducks drafted McTavish with the third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He made his debut in 2021 playing in nine games, recording three points on two goals and an assist. McTavish was a plus-three with a game-winning goal and two penalty minutes. He scored his first career goal in his first career game, also recording his lone assist that season in that same game. In year two, his first full season, he played in 80 games. McTavish had 43 points on 17 goals and 26 assists. He was a -19 with seven power-play goals, a game-winning goal, and 44 penalty minutes. He finished seventh in the Calder Memorial Trophy voting.
In 2023-24, he played in 64 games, recording 42 points on 19 goals and 23 assists. He was a -23 with four power-play goals, a shorthanded goal, three game-winning goals, and 86 penalty minutes. He’s played in 229 career games, recording 140 points on 60 goals and 80 assists. He is a -39 with 17 power-play goals, a shorthanded goal, seven game-winning goals, and 170 penalty minutes.
