Mason McTavish’s name is on the market, and a change of scenery might do him well
The Chris Johnston Show: Johnston and Julian McKenzie discuss Anaheim Geese Mason McTavish having his name within the rumor mill. A change of scenary might do him well. There are concerns about McTavish, and the costs are high, but he’s still only 23 and under contract for some time.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Johnston: “Mason McTavish, so I mean, look, this season didn’t go the way in which he or the Geese wanted. He signed an extension, missed part of coaching camp, got pretty big money, after which he got a decline in offense and a decline in time on ice, and was a healthy scratch a bit of bit in the course of the season, a pair times in the course of the playoffs.
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And positively his name is on the market, and you realize, fresh start might do him well. You have got to consider with Anaheim, like they must sign Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier’s getting up there. I mean, Anaheim has been this young team, they usually’re still a young team in age, but a few of their players are moving into being primetime guys and going to command paychecks, and in order that they must also manage the cap situation.
And you realize, I feel he’s an interesting name, because he’s so young, not that far faraway from being the third overall pick. Although now you’re now, you’re not judging him on a 3rd overall pick, you’re judging him on what he’s been as a professional.
, think among the concerns or issues in Anaheim with him were perhaps a bit of little bit of concern about his skating ability and speed, or lack thereof. , not at all times probably the most aware on the ice, but you realize, actually teams are, you realize.
He was, they was on the market a bit of bit, the trade deadline, I’d say, I don’t know if anything got close, close, but there was, he was definitely a part of discussions then. And I feel that there’s a bit of, I’d say a heightened level discussion about, you realize, where he’s at now, and there’s, you realize, you bought some teams taking a look at whether that is smart for them.”
McKenzie: “I do know there are people in Ottawa, even back to last 12 months, who were very intrigued about having an area kid come home. So, I do know along with his name on the market, that’s that’s one city needless to say.”
Johnston: “I’m embarrassed to say, I didn’t know he was an Ottawa guy.”
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McKenzie: “Yeah, I imagine, if I, if memory serves, I imagine when he was going through his contract tiffy with Anaheim, he went back to Ottawa to skate.”
Johnston: “Right.”
McKenzie: “That’s what I remember from, from last off season.”
Johnston “Right. I mean, we’ll see. It’s not going to be.. I probably like.. I could probably say this for everybody you’re going to ask for on this board, but like, the costs are high, right?”
McKenzie: “They’re going up.”
Johnston: “And the costs are high for a reason, though. There’s not quite a lot of players available other ways this offseason, right? And you realize, we all know there’s a couple of notable UFAs. I feel there’s a ton of depth UFAs. Don’t get me improper, I put out a listing of 75 this week, so there are players to sign.
But if you happen to’re on the lookout for more impactful additions to your team, there’s only so some ways to get them, and trade is admittedly the foundation this summer. And I feel if you happen to hold a player that has some appeal, naturally you’re you’re attempting to create a bidding war. You’re attempting to to auction, get the auction going here and get probably the most you possibly can.
And I feel it’s doubly soaked, because the advantage of Mctavish could be he signed, right? And it’s form of like if we discuss Matthew Knies, which I assume we’ll sooner or later here, you realize, Knies, the profit I’d argue is that it’s cost certainty for whoever gets him.
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And also you’re buying his best years, like he signed through his 20s, so the, you realize, you’re buying upside effectively. And so though he’s coming off not his best 12 months, actually, as an NHL player, but you realize, I feel it was a difficult 12 months in quite a lot of ways for McTavish personally. You’re still buying a fairly prime asset at the top of the day. It’s perhaps a small amount of distress there, but come on, I feel …”
McKenzie: “Early 20s.”
Johnston: “Reasonably, you’d bet that his age 24 or 25 seasons going to be higher, regardless of where it’s played. And if for some reason he doesn’t find yourself getting moved in any respect, it won’t surprise me in any respect if he has a very good season at Anaheim, because at a certain point they’re going to wish him.
But you realize, straight away they’re they’re actually listening on him, and since there’s so few centers available as well, I feel teams are, you realize, doubly interested by where the fit is likely to be with him.”
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