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!
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ITR 37: Round Two – Inside The Rink
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