The Toronto Maple Leafs have been monitoring several restricted free agents this offseason, hoping to land a young impact player who could change the dynamic of their roster.
With names like Marco Rossi and Connor Zary floating around the rumor mill, it’s clear that the Leafs are exploring every possible angle to inject youth and scoring power into their lineup. But when it comes to one particular target, Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish, the latest update might be a reality check Toronto fans didn’t want to hear.
Mason McTavish’s Future in Anaheim Looks All but Certain
According to Anthony Di Marco of The Daily Faceoff, the Leafs’ hopes of prying McTavish away from Anaheim are slim to none, and it has little to do with the player’s desire to stay.
“I really can’t see a world in which Ducks GM Pat Verbeek moves off of Mason McTavish. Verbeek, who learned under Steve Yzerman, is a notorious tough negotiator, so this may just be common practice for him. But given McTavish’s (projected) long-term role with the Ducks, it may be a situation where Verbeek is flying too close to the sun.
“I don’t think the Ducks will move McTavish, especially considering the fact that they moved on from Zegras in large part to the former’s long-term role with the club. My best guess is that a bridge deal ultimately gets done, but Verbeek would be best served to make sure things don’t go sideways to the point where the player’s long-term future with the club could come into question.”
Anthony Di Marco: I don’t think the Ducks will move McTavish; my best guess is that a bridge deal ultimately gets done – Daily Faceoff (8/7)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) August 9, 2025
For Toronto, this news is discouraging. McTavish isn’t just another young scorer; he’s a 22-year-old, 6’1″, 220-pound power forward with the kind of size and skill combination that the Leafs’ top six has been missing for years. Last season, he posted 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 76 games, bringing a physical edge with 38 penalty minutes and 70 hits. And he’s still years away from his prime.
The sticking point isn’t a lack of interest from either party; McTavish reportedly wants to stay in Anaheim as long as the contract reflects his value, but rather Verbeek’s hardline negotiation tactics. He’s not the type to rush into a deal, and while a bridge contract seems like the most likely outcome, there’s always a risk that protracted talks could sour the relationship.
For the Leafs, that means recalibrating expectations. No matter how much cap room they clear or how aggressive they get in trade talks, McTavish is almost certainly off the market. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially for a team desperate to take one last big swing before their current core starts aging out of contention.
