Mason McTavish’s contract saga with the Anaheim Ducks remains unresolved as the team weighs how big a role the young center will play behind a roster that blends veteran presence with rising talent. Dave Pagnotta’s take paints a Ducks club comfortable with contingencies: keep McTavish in a framework that suits his development, while keeping a watchful eye on the market for a potential move that could yield a bigger impact asset. The dynamic around usage, development, and the changing bench leadership under Joel Quenneville shapes the pause, with Granlund’s veteran addition intensifying the decision while the Ducks hold strong on matching capacity and future plans.

As McTavish sits in RFA limbo, the market has glimpses of intrigue beyond Anaheim. The Rangers’ recent asset moves, including Trouba and Kreider, underscore how teams monitor and react to a marquee young talent like McTavish. Pittsburgh’s name surfaces as a potential landing spot should a package offer arise that could tilt the Ducks’ plans toward a bigger splash. Throughout, McTavish’s development arc remains the central thread for fantasy managers weighing MAC/ROS lineups and long-term value in a Ducks ecosystem with veteran aces and a budding core.