Training camps have begun around the NHL, yet one of the best restricted free agents remains unsigned.
Anaheim Ducks young star Mason McTavish is still without a deal, and on Thursday, it officially lingered into the team's training camp.
McTavish is skating with the Ottawa 67s of the OHL in the meantime, while both sides have not come close to an agreement on an extension.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman shared the news with details on X (formerly Twitter).
"With training camp on-ice sessions beginning today, Mason McTavish is skating with the OHL’s Ottawa 67s. The contract stalemate continues in Anaheim. It’s believed the Ducks prefer not to do a bridge, but no common ground yet," Friedman wrote.
With training camp on-ice sessions beginning today, Mason McTavish is skating with the OHL’s Ottawa 67s
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 18, 2025
The contract stalemate continues in Anaheim. It’s believed the Ducks prefer not to do a bridge, but no common ground yet
The 22-year-old just played out his three-year, $2,682,501 entry-level contract signed with the Ducks in 2021. He's been quite productive to begin his career, tallying 140 points (60 goals, 80 assists) through his first 229 games played, including a high of 52 (22 goals, 30 assists) this past season.
Anaheim needs to get this done
If the Anaheim Ducks want to start taking steps toward contending for a playoff spot, they have to sort this out and lock up Mason McTavish for the long term.
The third overall pick from 2021 is a key cog in the Ducks' lineup and is just scratching the surface of his potential. Anaheim still has plenty of talent up front, but after moving on from Trevor Zegras this summer, not having McTavish either would create problems.
For a team that's been in the midst of a rebuild, they've added an awful lot of veterans of late and seem to be pushing their highly drafted young players out the door. Whether that's their strategy or just how things have played out is unknown; either way, it's confusing to make sense of.
Teams around the league have certainly been calling Pat Verbeek about McTavish, and that's only going to continue the longer this stalemate drags out.