The Anaheim Ducks and RFA center Mason McTavish remain at odds regarding a new contract for this upcoming season.
The clock keeps ticking with time running out to get a deal in place before the start of training camp. With about two weeks to go, it’s getting awfully close to crunch time for both parties.
But as a new report from James Murphy at RG Media states, the Ducks and McTavish are not ready to push the panic button just yet.
In the report published on September 3, Murphy quoted an anonymous league executive with knowledge of the situation between the Ducks and McTavish. The executive revealed to Murphy that a trade is not forthcoming at this point.
But the source didn’t rule out the possibility of one happening at some point. The source stated:
“He (Ducks GM Pat Verbeek) hasn’t sent the bat signal out yet that it’s time to talk trade and take the best offer. The pressure point of camp is coming, but right now they’re not there yet, and I’m not sure they ever get there.”
The comments came within the backdrop of the GM and coaches’ meeting in Detroit this week. The gathering was a good way to spur conversation among league executives. However, there don’t appear to be any imminent deals in the works.
However, Ducks fans shouldn’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. The situation could come to a head, forcing Verbeek to push the nuclear option. If that’s the case, the Ducks could have no choice but to take the best deal available.
Ducks McTavish could follow Rossi’s path in Minnesota
Another league source discussed the events that led to Marco Rossi’s signing in Minnesota a couple of weeks ago. Rossi, like McTavish, was a UFA holding out for the best possible deal. In the end, Rossi signed a three-year, $15 million contract.
The source told Murphy that:
“I think the Rossi market wasn’t as big as some were reporting, and that’s why he signed.”
So, it could be that the McTavish market, like the Rossi market, isn’t that big. If that’s the case, the 22-year-old center may capitulate like Rossi and take a bridge deal. A bridge deal, at this point, may not be the worst thing in the world for the Ducks and McTavish.
Of course, a bridge deal would just kick the can down the road. But at least it would buy both sides some time to figure out where they stand. The Ducks have the luxury of time and cap space. However, McTavish does not.
So, the situation could come down to the Ducks and McTavish finding a middle-ground solution and focusing on the season ahead.