Rumors surfaced that the White House considered banning Russian players from the NHL in 2024, a claim the White House and league officials publicly denied. The same chatter frames a separate, much more concrete hockey note: Mason McTavish of Anaheim is drawing monster interest as an offer-sheet candidate, with teams like Montreal and Carolina observing and Detroit reportedly pushing hardest to land him. Ducks cap space (over $20 million) makes a high-stakes move plausible, though any package would have to be massive to pry McTavish loose.

Among the targets tied to a McTavish-era swing, Detroit is discussed as a primary suitor, with Moritz Seider and Axel Sandin-Pellikka flagged as centerpiece pieces that could catalyze a deal. The Canadiens and Hurricanes are watching closely as well. If Detroit goes all-in, the fallout would reshape the Wings’ middle-core and shift McTavish’s fantasy value depending on where he lands and who supports him on the lineup. The Ducks, meanwhile, would have to recalibrate their rebuilding plan around cap math and asset returns.

In fantasy terms, McTavish’s stock would hinge on the destination’s supporting cast and ice time. Seider and Sandin-Pellikka’s involvement signals a dramatic shift in the risk/reward calculus for a potential McTavish deal, while Montreal and Carolina watching quietly underscores the broader market for a young, high-ceiling center with term remaining on his ELC/rookie control window.