The Anaheim Ducks could be getting closer to ending their ongoing saga with restricted free agent Mason McTavish, according to an insider update shared on Tuesday.
During an appearance on B/R Open Ice on September 23, insider Frank Seravalli provided new details on the contract standoff between the Ducks and McTavish. He revealed that both sides have been in conversation and seem to have settled on a term length for the deal. Seravalli explained, “I believe that they’ve settled on what would appear to be the term — part of this discussion — meaning they’ve focused in on a number of years. So far, that’s encouraging news for Ducks fans.”
However, the financial details of the contract remain unresolved. Seravalli added, “I’m told it’s not a short-term deal, but they remain pretty far apart if it is at that term, what the AAV [average annual value] would look like on that deal. So they’ve gone around and around in circles.”
It’s unclear how far apart the two sides are on dollar terms, but the difference appears significant enough to keep negotiations at a standstill. Without willingness from either the Ducks or McTavish’s camp to compromise, progress will stall. The risk of starting the season without a contract in place looms large, potentially resulting in negative consequences for both the player and the team.
### Ducks and Mason McTavish Face a New Deadline
The Ducks and Mason McTavish face a crucial deadline: December 1 is the final date for a restricted free agent to sign a contract before being forced to sit out the entire season.
While this deadline provides both sides with what appears to be ample time to finalize an agreement, negotiations often become more difficult once the season is underway. After the season starts, the Ducks will have less than two months to complete a deal before the deadline passes.
If the Ducks fail to sign McTavish by December 1, they risk losing the 23-year-old forward for the season—a significant blow for a team aiming to compete seriously for the first time in several years.
There is also the looming possibility that, if it becomes clear the Ducks and McTavish cannot reach a deal, the team might consider trading him before the December 1 cutoff. That scenario cannot be ruled out once games begin.
In the meantime, as Seravalli noted, conversations between the sides could continue. But until one party is willing to make concessions, a deal may remain a long way off. Ducks fans will be watching closely as the deadline approaches, hopeful for a resolution that keeps McTavish in Anaheim.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/nhl/rumor-nhl-rumors-mason-mctavish-anaheim-ducks-working-towards-long-term-deal-claims-insider