Hate to spoil the party, but another trade rumor is destined to end in tears.
An anonymous NHL source recently linked the Detroit Red Wings as a potential destination for Mason McTavish—if the Anaheim Ducks fail to secure him on a new contract.
Too bad it doesn’t make any sense
Hockey media outlets around the world seized on the news, in part because of the deep-rooted professional history between Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman and Ducks GM Pat Verbeek. The two were teammates in Detroit from 1999 to 2001, but their connection runs even deeper.
Verbeek later served under Yzerman in executive roles with both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Red Wings, gaining a reputation as a trusted lieutenant. Verbeek was appointed GM of the Ducks in February 2022.
With all due respect, personal relationships alone don’t equate to imminent transactions. Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon have spent much of the summer hanging out, yet no serious analyst would interpret that as credible evidence of a potential Crosby-to-Colorado trade.
Let’s apply a bit of discernment here: professional familiarity may help facilitate dialogue, but it doesn’t guarantee a deal. Moreover, the Ducks are actively seeking to bolster their blue line, with an emphasis on acquiring impactful, right-shot, mobile defensemen to address what remains a thin and vulnerable back end.
Conveniently—or inconveniently—the Red Wings are facing a similar structural deficiency on defense. For this trade to materialize, Detroit would likely have to part with a future top-pairing defenseman—an asset Yzerman has spent the entire offseason safeguarding.
Such a move would not only be shortsighted; it would run counter to the strategic blueprint the Red Wings have been following with clear intention.
From a strategic standpoint, if McTavish doesn't re-sign with Anaheim, the Chicago Blackhawks would represent a highly sensible landing spot. Connor Bedard needs support—not only on the scoresheet but in the trenches—and McTavish could provide precisely that.
As a physical, defensively responsible 2C with 25–30 goal potential, he would offer the kind of two-way insulation Bedard needs to thrive. Chicago also possesses the prospect depth and draft capital necessary to facilitate a meaningful deal.
Another strong fit is the Ottawa Senators, a team desperate for greater balance within its top six. McTavish would provide the rugged, versatile presence that Ottawa's forward corps currently lacks—offering both secondary scoring and the kind of competitive edge that complements their high-skill nucleus.
As for Detroit, the logic begins to unravel
The Red Wings are not hurting for offensive talent—they can score with the best of them. Their Achilles’ heel, however, remains glaring: defensive structure and goal suppression.
Offloading valuable blueline prospects or depth in pursuit of another forward, no matter how promising, would directly contradict the very offseason priorities this front office has set. Familiarity between Yzerman and Verbeek may generate headlines, but it shouldn't override sound roster construction.
A McTavish acquisition, however attractive, risks unspooling the defensive recalibration Detroit has spent months carefully orchestrating.
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