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Red Wings receive Mason McTavish update that exposes the true reasoning for a strained relationship in Anaheim
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Detroit Red Wings received an update that exposed the true reasoning behind Mason McTavish's strained relationship with the Anaheim Ducks.
The Anaheim Ducks restricted free agent Mason McTavish has skipped the start of his team's training camp, going back to the Ottawa 67's facilities instead of joining his NHL teammates due to his contract dispute with GM Pat Verbeek.
There have been many trade rumors involving McTavish over the past months, but Verbeek doesn't want to trade him, and there is interest from both sides in reaching a long-term deal.
However, there are other issues that stand between the Ducks and McTavish reaching a deal.
Elliotte Friedman Sets The Record Straight On Mason McTavish And Explains Why Pat Verbeek Doesn't Cave So Easily
On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman mentioned that while both sides want to avoid a trade and reach a long-term deal, they don't agree on a salary:
"I've heard it in several different places. No one has disputed it to me, but the Ducks do not want to do a bridge. They want to do longer-term here.
And I do believe McTavish is receptive to that. I think he is willing to go long-term here. But as we're seeing, the cap is exploding for the top players. The numbers are rising. And I think what the Ducks see as a long-term contract, and what McTavish's representatives, Pat Morris at Newport, see as a long-term number are different. They are significantly apart.
But the fact is, he's shown no interest in trading him. So, you know, I don't have a solution for this one yet."
He added an interesting point, stating that this could be Verbeek's way of showing the other young players who'll be looking for massive extensions he won't mind if all extension negotiations go down this way.
This is especially important considering there are high hopes in Anaheim this year, and management hopes to see all the young players take massive steps.
In Friedman's words:
"The Ducks have a bunch of young players who will need new contracts in the near future. You take a look at those, those guys. (Leo) Carlsson, really good young player. (Jackson) LaCombe, really good young player. (Cutter) Gauthier, really good young player. Like they have a bunch of really good young players.
We talked about how this is on the horizon, and another agent took that a step farther for me. He said that this is not only about the Mason McTavish negotiation, this is Pat Verbeek sending a signal that all these negotiations could be like this. That we have a line, and we're going to hold our line, at least for now. We'll see how this all plays out.
Like the one thing that's true is this is a big year in Anaheim. They, they want to take a step forward. Um, internally, they've made it very clear about that. They just hired Joel Quenneville. I mean, you're taking a risk not having McTavish there at the start of the season. But Pat Verbeek has made it very clear he's not going to get pushed around on contract numbers. So we'll see where this goes."
We talked about how this is on the horizon, and another agent took that a step farther for me. He said that this is not only about the Mason McTavish negotiation, this is Pat Verbeek sending a signal that all these negotiations could be like this. That we have a line, and we're going to hold our line, at least for now. We'll see how this all plays out.
Like the one thing that's true is this is a big year in Anaheim. They, they want to take a step forward. Um, internally, they've made it very clear about that. They just hired Joel Quenneville. I mean, you're taking a risk not having McTavish there at the start of the season. But Pat Verbeek has made it very clear he's not going to get pushed around on contract numbers. So we'll see where this goes."
It'll be interesting to see if they reach a deal before the end of the preseason. If not, trade rumors will keep going around.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 23 | 190 ANSWERS Red Wings receive Mason McTavish update that exposes the true reasoning for a strained relationship in Anaheim Do you think Mason McTavish will sign a long-term deal with the Anaheim Ducks before the start of the season? | ||
| Yes | 87 | 45.8 % |
| No | 103 | 54.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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