The Minnesota Wild re-signing Marco
Rossi on Aug. 22 and the Calgary Flames inking Connor Zary (Sept. 5)
have put more attention toward the contract negotiations of Anaheim
Ducks center Mason McTavish and New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke
Hughes.
Like Rossi and Zary, both players are RFAs coming off their entry-level
contracts. McTavish is eligible to sign an offer sheet, but Hughes is
not. So far, there’s no indication the Ducks center will get an
offer from a rival club.
Teams in the market for a second-line
center have been linked to McTavish, including the Carolina
Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal
Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks. However,
recent reports claim the Ducks remain intent on signing him.
On Friday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte
Friedman reported the Ducks could attempt to sign McTavish to a
bridge deal. However, he’s heard that management prefers a long-term
contract.
Report: Anaheim Ducks “Not Crazy on a Bridge Deal” for Mason McTavish, Prefer Long-Term Extension
A new development surfaced with the Anaheim Ducks, Mason McTavish, and the ongoing saga of contract extension negotiations.
Meanwhile, the Devils have just over $6
million in salary-cap space, leading some observers to suggest they
must shed some salary to re-sign Hughes. Sportsnet’s Luke Fox
believes that’s why left winger Ondrej Palat and defenseman Dougie
Hamilton have been mentioned as trade candidates.
On Aug. 29, NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky
reported that the Devils sought a three-year bridge contract or an
eight-year deal, but Luke wants his next contract to end in 2030, the
same year that his brother and teammate, Jack Hughes, will have his
deal expire.
As for salary, Fox suggested Quinton
Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings as a comparable for McTavish.
Byfield is in the second season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million. Meanwhile, the Devils could seek something for
Hughes along the lines of Brock Faber’s $8.5-million cap hit on his
eight-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.
The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau believes the two clubs are
under pressure to get these two talented RFAs under contract as soon
as possible.
Proteau considers Hughes to be the
difference between the Devils securing home-ice advantage for the
2026 playoffs or competing for a wild-card berth. Meanwhile, the
rebuilding Ducks need all hands on deck (including McTavish) to end
their post-season drought.
Hughes could end up signing before
McTavish. Friedman observed that the Ducks have shown a willingness
to wait until they get the deal they want, even if it means
negotiations drag through training camp.
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