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Anaheim Ducks Secure Mason McTavish with Six-Year Deal – Is a Game-Changing Era About to Begin?

Anaheim Ducks Secure Mason McTavish with Six-Year Deal – Is a Game-Changing Era About to Begin?

After weeks of tense negotiations and mounting anticipation, the Anaheim Ducks and Mason McTavish have finally put pen to paper on a new contract that will keep the young center in Orange County for the foreseeable future. This six-year, $42 million deal, with a $7 million average annual value, signals a significant commitment by the Ducks to their budding star, ensuring stability just as the team embarks on a season loaded with high expectations and fresh strategic directions under Joel Quenneville. It’s been a delicate dance of give and take, with McTavish’s camp seeking term and security, and the Ducks aiming for fiscal prudence—yet both sides found common ground in what could turn out to be a defining moment for the franchise’s identity. The whispers around the NHL had this saga stretching further, but sometimes, all it takes is one critical phone call to change the entire narrative. To dive deeper into the details and implications of this new pact, LEARN MORE.

Mason McTavish Agrees To New Deal

The long-awaited standoff is over between the Anaheim Ducks and Mason McTavish. It was announced on Saturday afternoon that the Ducks and McTavish have agreed to a six-year deal worth $42 million. The deal carries an AAV of $7 million.

NHL Rumors: Not a Whole Lot of Movement in the Mason McTavish Talks with the Anaheim Ducks

Earlier in the morning, LeBrun tweeted that there was no movement on either side, as the status quo remained, but he emphasized that things could change with one call.

All It Took With MacTavish Was One Phone Call

That one phone call came, and the two parties were able to reach an agreement. As documented, Mason McTavish and his camp were seeking a long-term (seven to eight-year) deal at an AAV of $7 million. Meanwhile, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek was looking for a little shorter deal in that mid-range (four to five-year) deal in the $6 million range of an AAV.

There was give and take from both parties. McTavish’s camp came down on the term, while Verbeek and the Ducks went up in dollar amount. There was a good chance this could have lasted a long time if something didn’t get done on Saturday.

NHL Rumors: Anaheim Ducks Want To Keep Mason McTavish

Verbeek had been adamant that he wasn’t trading McTavish. They saw him as part of the future in Anaheim. However, McTavish wasn’t sure what his role would be and needed certainty from the team that he would be the first- or second-line center. Now he has it with this contract.

“Mason is a key part of our team, and we’re excited to reach a long-term agreement that reflects his importance to our future,” said Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek in a statement on Saturday. “He’s a highly skilled, physical, and competitive player who plays the game the right way. Mason has already made a significant impact at a young age, and we’re confident he’ll continue to grow into a top player as we build toward sustained success.”

In addition, despite the threat of an offer sheet, teams were not willing to do Pat Verbeek’s job for him. Say a team was going to offer McTavish over $7 million per season, the Ducks were going to match that because they had the cap space to match it. Not to mention, teams were not going to give up unprotected first-round draft picks with the thought of drafting Gavin McKenna in 2026.

NHL Rumors: How Does Marco Rossi’s Contract Effect Mason McTavish Negotiations

McTavish is now getting what Troy Terry and Mikael Granlund are making with the Anaheim Ducks.

More Mason MacTavish Comparables

So, what does it say for all the talk about a rising cap and players getting more of a percentage of the cap, that McTavish took less than some of his peers who were a part of the same draft class?

NHL Rumors: The Anaheim Ducks Aren’t Crazy About a Mason McTavish Bridge Deal

In 229 career NHL games, McTavish has recorded 140 points (60 goals and 80 assists). Additionally, during the 2024-25 season, he set career highs in points (52), goals (22), and assists (30). He is only getting better with each passing year.

So, the Ducks knew how important it was to get him into training camp with the new head coach, Joel Quenneville, who would be instilling new systems. The longer this standoff lasted, the more it would hurt both the player and the team. Remember, Verbeek has high expectations for the team this season.

With Mason McTavish off the board now, the attention turns to Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils and Luke Evangelista as the last two remaining unsigned RFAs.

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