Near the top of the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> trade target list this upcoming offseason should Rescrited Free Agent (RFA) <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/7-top-6-centres-with-term-vancouver-canucks-could-trade-for">Mason McTavish</a>. 
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McTavish just finished his third full season with the Anaheim Ducks and has subtly improved each year since he’s been in the NHL. The 22-year-old centreman has been a very solid option for the Ducks in the middle six but with the Canucks potentially being able to offer a bigger role, he could be a great option for the team to grow into that second line centre role quickly.
<blockquote>The Player</blockquote>
The former third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft has had three straight 40-plus point seasons, reaching a new career high in goals (22), assists (30) and points (52) this last year, making him the second leading scorer on the Ducks behind Troy Terry (55 points).
These point totals don’t scream high-end second-line centre, but McTavish was able to put up these numbers playing 16:53 minutes per night on the league&#8217;s 24th-placed team. And at just 22 years old, McTavish could be in for another big jump to make grow into that role.
He’s a big 6’1” 220-pound power forward that is hard on the forecheck, defensively sound and has a nose for the net. We haven’t seen him in the NHL playoffs yet in his career, but we do have some samples of his game in crunch time. 
McTavish made the game-saving defensive play in the 2022 World Junior Championship Gold Medal game against Finland, where he batted the puck off the goal line in overtime, and Canada went on to win later on in that game. 
Of course, there is a massive difference between a gold medal game in the World Juniors and the NHL playoffs. However, given the grit and his play style, it would be fair to assume McTavish could maintain his play throughout a playoff run.
<blockquote>The Fit</blockquote>
McTavish spent the majority of last season in the Ducks middle six, playing alongside a combination of Trevor Zegras, Sam Colangelo, Cutter Gauthier and Robbi Fabri.
His fit on the Canucks would be an immediate middle-six centreman, that would complement <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/detailed-linear-history-filip-chytils-concussions">Filip Chytil</a> as a great one-two punch between the second and third lines. Chytil would play more of a finesse role that creates off the rush, while McTavish can crash and bang on the forecheck and create from down low.
<a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-iihf-world-championship-wrap-up-conor-garland-drew-oconnors-usa-wins-gold">Conor Garland</a> would also be a great fit on McTavish’s wing. Both Garland and McTavish like to cycle the puck down low and work from the corners and behind the net to create scoring chances. This fit could allow Garland to use his playmaking skills to set McTavish up in tight, which can give him plenty of scoring opportunities.
Drew O’Connor or Kiefer Sherwood would also be a great fit alongside McTavish, using their speed and forechecking ability to help create space through the neutral zone and get in on loose pucks, starting the cycle for Garland and McTavish.
A line of Sherwood/O’Connor-McTavish-Garland would be a very tough third line for other teams to defend because of their puck-moving and hard forechecking. 
McTavish was also featured on the Ducks top power play unit and would be a great fit in the bumper spot on the Canucks top unit. He’s a big body that can utilize his size and reach to box defenders out, create space for himself in the slot and has a dangerous shot to bury his chances.
<blockquote>What might it cost?</blockquote>
Trading for a proven young player like McTavish might be a challenge, although since he is an upcoming RFA, there is a chance that a deal could come to fruition. According to AFP Analytics, a three-year bridge deal for McTavish is projected to cost just under $4 million, while a longer-term extension is projected at six years at just under $6.8 million.
The Canucks do have their 2026 second-round pick, so they could choose to offer sheet him at that bridge deal. However, the Ducks would likely match that as they wouldn’t want to lose a player of his calibre and age for just a second-round pick. 
To entice McTavish away from Anaheim, the Canucks would likely have to offer something with more term, but the team doesn’t have the proper draft compensation to do so in an offer sheet.
This is where a trade would have to come in. 
The Canucks 2025 first-round pick would be a good starting point in order to get a deal done, but they would have to add a few assets to that as well. 
With the Ducks taking a step forward this season, and McTavish ending the year with 25 points after the trade deadline (28 games), a trade may not be likely. Unless, the Canucks were to truly blow away the Ducks with an offer. 
Perhaps adding a younger roster player like Nils Höglander and their 2026 second-round pick could be enough to get a deal done. But given the Ducks are now transitioning to a contending team, they likely would hold a young players who could help them now over picks. Say, like a Victor Mancini?
So Canucks fans, is the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-recent-history-15th-overall-pick-nhl-draft">15th overall pick</a> in this years draft plus their 2026 second-round pick and Nils Höglander (and Victor Mancini) too high of a price to pay for Mason McTavish? Or is the risk worth the reward of getting a young middle-six centre who has yet to reach his true potential?
Let us know in the comments below!
<h2><a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-offseason-centre-trade-targets-return-bo-horvat">READ NEXT: Canucks offseason centre trade targets: The return of Bo Horvat</a></h2>
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Near the top of the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> trade target list this upcoming offseason should Rescrited Free Agent (RFA) <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/7-top-6-centres-with-term-vancouver-canucks-could-trade-for">Mason McTavish</a>. 
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McTavish just finished his third full season with the Anaheim Ducks and has subtly improved each year since he’s been in the NHL. The 22-year-old centreman has been a very solid option for the Ducks in the middle six but with the Canucks potentially being able to offer a bigger role, he could be a great option for the team to grow into that second line centre role quickly.
<blockquote>The Player</blockquote>
The former third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft has had three straight 40-plus point seasons, reaching a new career high in goals (22), assists (30) and points (52) this last year, making him the second leading scorer on the Ducks behind Troy Terry (55 points).

These point totals don’t scream high-end second-line centre, but McTavish was able to put up these numbers playing 16:53 minutes per night on the league's 24th-placed team. And at just 22 years old, McTavish could be in for another big jump to make grow into that role.

He’s a big 6’1” 220-pound power forward that is hard on the forecheck, defensively sound and has a nose for the net. We haven’t seen him in the NHL playoffs yet in his career, but we do have some samples of his game in crunch time. 

McTavish made the game-saving defensive play in the 2022 World Junior Championship Gold Medal game against Finland, where he batted the puck off the goal line in overtime, and Canada went on to win later on in that game. 

Of course, there is a massive difference between a gold medal game in the World Juniors and the NHL playoffs. However, given the grit and his play style, it would be fair to assume McTavish could maintain his play throughout a playoff run.
<blockquote>The Fit</blockquote>
McTavish spent the majority of last season in the Ducks middle six, playing alongside a combination of Trevor Zegras, Sam Colangelo, Cutter Gauthier and Robbi Fabri.

His fit on the Canucks would be an immediate middle-six centreman, that would complement <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/detailed-linear-history-filip-chytils-concussions">Filip Chytil</a> as a great one-two punch between the second and third lines. Chytil would play more of a finesse role that creates off the rush, while McTavish can crash and bang on the forecheck and create from down low.

<a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-iihf-world-championship-wrap-up-conor-garland-drew-oconnors-usa-wins-gold">Conor Garland</a> would also be a great fit on McTavish’s wing. Both Garland and McTavish like to cycle the puck down low and work from the corners and behind the net to create scoring chances. This fit could allow Garland to use his playmaking skills to set McTavish up in tight, which can give him plenty of scoring opportunities.

Drew O’Connor or Kiefer Sherwood would also be a great fit alongside McTavish, using their speed and forechecking ability to help create space through the neutral zone and get in on loose pucks, starting the cycle for Garland and McTavish.

A line of Sherwood/O’Connor-McTavish-Garland would be a very tough third line for other teams to defend because of their puck-moving and hard forechecking. 

McTavish was also featured on the Ducks top power play unit and would be a great fit in the bumper spot on the Canucks top unit. He’s a big body that can utilize his size and reach to box defenders out, create space for himself in the slot and has a dangerous shot to bury his chances.
<blockquote>What might it cost?</blockquote>
Trading for a proven young player like McTavish might be a challenge, although since he is an upcoming RFA, there is a chance that a deal could come to fruition. According to AFP Analytics, a three-year bridge deal for McTavish is projected to cost just under $4 million, while a longer-term extension is projected at six years at just under $6.8 million.

The Canucks do have their 2026 second-round pick, so they could choose to offer sheet him at that bridge deal. However, the Ducks would likely match that as they wouldn’t want to lose a player of his calibre and age for just a second-round pick. 

To entice McTavish away from Anaheim, the Canucks would likely have to offer something with more term, but the team doesn’t have the proper draft compensation to do so in an offer sheet.

This is where a trade would have to come in. 

The Canucks 2025 first-round pick would be a good starting point in order to get a deal done, but they would have to add a few assets to that as well. 

With the Ducks taking a step forward this season, and McTavish ending the year with 25 points after the trade deadline (28 games), a trade may not be likely. Unless, the Canucks were to truly blow away the Ducks with an offer. 

Perhaps adding a younger roster player like Nils Höglander and their 2026 second-round pick could be enough to get a deal done. But given the Ducks are now transitioning to a contending team, they likely would hold a young players who could help them now over picks. Say, like a Victor Mancini?

So Canucks fans, is the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-recent-history-15th-overall-pick-nhl-draft">15th overall pick</a> in this years draft plus their 2026 second-round pick and Nils Höglander (and Victor Mancini) too high of a price to pay for Mason McTavish? Or is the risk worth the reward of getting a young middle-six centre who has yet to reach his true potential?

Let us know in the comments below!
<h2><a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-offseason-centre-trade-targets-return-bo-horvat">READ NEXT: Canucks offseason centre trade targets: The return of Bo Horvat</a></h2>
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Canucks offseason centre trade target: Mason McTavish

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