Mason McTavish Poised for Breakout Season: Anaheim Ducks 2024-25 Player Previews

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez (USA TODAY Sports) / edited by Kimberly Atwood

The Anaheim Ducks are one of the most intriguing teams to watch this season, and not just because they’re my favorite team. Despite holding the fourth-longest active playoff drought in the NHL, there’s genuine optimism surrounding the Ducks. While a playoff berth may not be guaranteed, significant steps forward are expected. After six years of rebuilding (aka sucking), the Ducks now have one of the deepest rosters of young talent in the league, featuring players like Leo Carlsson, Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier, Lukas Dostal, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger. Additionally, 27-year-old, two-time All-Star Troy Terry adds experience to this youthful lineup. And that doesn’t even include the players who are just 1 to 3 years away from joining the team.

After a quiet offseason and with Patrik Laine—the last significant trade piece—now moved, the Ducks’ roster is essentially set. The focus this year is clearly on the youth movement again. With the roster largely settled, it’s time to set expectations for individual players, starting with Mason McTavish.

I’ve already mentioned McTavish as one of three players with the most to prove this season in a previous article, but what are some realistic expectations for him?

Related Post: 3 Anaheim Ducks with the Most to Prove in 2024-25: Zegras, Gauthier & McTavish

McTavish is a bit tricky to assess because his role in the lineup is still uncertain. I anticipate he’ll be slotted on the third line—not necessarily where I’d prefer to see him, but it makes sense given the Ducks’ depth.

On the third line, McTavish might not get as many opportunities as he deserves. However, he’ll still be on one of the power play units, likely in the same position as last year, serving as the one-timer option. Outside of maybe Radko Gudas, Frank Vatrano, and potentially now Cutter Gauthier, McTavish has the best one-timer on the team, and I have no doubt he’ll solidify that this season.

Last year, he struggled with consistency on his one-timer, ranging from whiffs to muffins on net. However, he also didn’t have consistent opportunities. Thanks Newell Brown! We saw what Vatrano did on the power play with a system more suited to him. With Rich Clune now at the helm of the power play, I’m eager to see how he maximizes the skill of the Ducks’ young core, particularly McTavish.

This season is undoubtedly the biggest of McTavish’s career, and he seems to know it, given how he’s been training.

With a respectable, though slightly underwhelming, 88 points in 153 games, McTavish is now entering his third full season. Expectations should be high. Assuming he stays healthy, I believe this is the year he hits 20 goals, with the potential to push for 25. That would likely bring his total to around 65 points for the season. If he ends up on the second line with better linemates, I could easily see him pushing for 80 points with 30 goals, especially if paired with Zegras and Terry. However, I doubt the Ducks will take that route.

Defensively, expect McTavish to bounce back to average or slightly above-average form. His defense may not have been as strong as initially advertised when drafted, but he’s certainly better than what we saw last year. Improving his defense by avoiding lazy stick checks and keeping players in front of him will also help cut down on penalties.

I hope GM Pat Verbeek considers signing McTavish to a long-term deal before the season ends. If it were up to me, I’d offer McTavish a deal similar to what Matty Beniers—the player selected before McTavish in the 2021 draft—just signed: a 7-year contract worth $7.14 million per year. While Beniers is better defensively, their points per 60 minutes are relatively similar, and I believe McTavish has the edge in potential.

I’m expecting a big year for Mason McTavish. If the Ducks decide to name him captain, those expectations might be even higher, though I’m not sure he’s ready for that responsibility just yet. This season will be very telling in terms of whether he’ll ever be ready for such a role.

This article is part of a new series leading up to the NHL season. I’ll be doing full-length articles on all the players I mentioned earlier, followed by combined articles for the forwards and defensemen groups. Unfortunately, I won’t be writing a full-length article on Ross Johnston—sorry to disappoint.

Thank you for reading, and GO DUCKS!

Video Version:

ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.
  1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing
  2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos
  3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening
  4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again
  5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Kimberly Atwood

Kimberly Atwood has been an Anaheim Ducks fan since 2013. She runs Duck My Life, a YouTube channel dedicated to in-depth discussions on Ducks’ games, player performances, trades, and more. Her engaging content blends the latest news, insights, and behind-the-scenes stories, offering a fresh perspective for hockey fans. Though new to professional writing, Kimberly’s passion for the game drives her unique storytelling approach.

Leave a Reply

Taking a Look at the Detroit Red Wings Draft History

I have written that the Detroit Red Wings have not been able to acquire a superstar player in the NHL Entry Draft due to their not having won the NHL’s draft lottery since its inception in 1995. Before this, the draft order was set in reverse order of the standings from the previous season. Defenseman […]

Read More
Jason Smith

Former Oilers Defenseman Will Coach The Oil Kings

Not breaking news involving our Edmonton Oilers, but still a pretty cool headline for nostalgia purposes. Jason Smith, who was part of the Oilers blueline from 1999/2000 to 2000/2008, and team captain during their Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006, has signed on to be the head coach of the WHL’s Edmonton […]

Read More

ECHL: Oliver Cooper Signs with Florida, Adds Size and Grit Up Front

The Florida Everblades have signed 30-year-old forward Oliver Cooper for the 2025–26 season. A 6’3”, 205-pound center from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Cooper brings a physical presence and a proven winning track record to the Everblades’ forward group. ECHL Familiarity and European Experience Cooper returns to the ECHL with a wealth of professional experience. Most recently, […]

Read More