The Montreal Canadiens–Toronto Maple Leafs rivalry takes no days off. Not even during the dog days of the NHL offseason do the two antagonistic franchises wave the white flag. According to reports, Patrik Laine’s organization might be getting serious about Anaheim Ducks RFA Mason McTavish—but expect an answer from Auston Matthews and company.
The summer of 2025 has been quite different in Montreal and Toronto. The Habs have enjoyed a relatively quiet holiday-break, while the Buds have endured some chaotic times. Regardless, both sides are heading into the 2025-26 NHL campaign with renewed hopes.
While Matthews and the Leafs face far more pressure than their counterparts Laine and the Canadiens, both fanbases have set the bar quite high. A Stanley Cup might not be a reasonable demand for Montreal, but try telling its fans that after last season’s impressive form. As for Toronto, it might as well be Cup or nothing.
In the mix for McTavish
However, it’s too early for the two organizations to stress over hypotheticals and potential playoff matchups. There are more pressing areas of concern—for example, the prospect of landing Ducks forward McTavish, the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 draft. On that note, the Habs are reportedly paying close attention to the situation brewing in Anaheim.
Mason McTavish #23 of the Anaheim Ducks skates to a puck during the second period of a game against the Minnesota Wild at Honda Center on March 19, 2024 in Anaheim, California.
“If there is an eventual path to McTavish being moved, you can be sure that there will be no shortage of teams waiting in line to inquire about his services. The first one that jumps is the Montreal Canadiens, who have a lot of questions down the middle beyond captain Nick Suzuki. Not sure what a deal could look like,” Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco recently stated. “The Canadiens are a club that I’d reckon would be keeping close tabs on McTavish’s availability.”
see also
NHL News: Ducks reportedly continue negotiations for promising RFA forward amid interest from Maple Leafs, NY Rangers, and Canadiens
What’s McTavish’s situation like?
The Swiss-born Canadian center witnessed his entry-level contract come to an end after the past NHL season, and thus is now a restricted free agent. Such term indicates any team interested in signing him would have to pitch an offer sheet, which Anaheim has the right to match and retain its young talent.
However, McTavish and the Ducks have yet to agree on a new contract, and with each passing minute the tension builds for another franchise to swoop in with an offer sheet. Or, if the Ducks lose hope on working things out, a hockey trade could instead give McTavish a fresh start somewhere else in the league.
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs competes in the Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting during the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills at SAP Center on January 25, 2019 in San Jose, California.
Rollercoaster summer
It’d be shocking to see Anaheim move on from both Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish in one offseason, but crazier things have happened. And head coach Joel Quenneville isn’t one to shy away from making bold moves, and nor is it general manager Pat Verbeek.
“After the trade of Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers, I can’t imagine that McTavish doesn’t stay put in Anaheim,” Di Marco admitted. “But with each passing day as we get deeper into the summer, you have to wonder how this all plays out.“
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Much can be said about the Ducks’ approach to the offseason, but one thing is clear: they made Disneyland proud. Anaheim’s summer had no shortage of sudden drops, nerve-wracking suspense, and all-around, never-ending adrenaline bursts. To top it off, the organization gave a nod to the theme park in town with their first-round selection of Roger McQueen, who will wear the #95 jersey—though he’s headed to the NCAA for the 2025–26 season.
