The Draft and Free Agency have passed, and the off-season seems to be in full swing. The next major event on the calendar is the start of the pre-season in September, but that's not to say there won't be some more player movement in the off-season.
Recently, teams were required to tender offers to remaining unsigned restricted free agents. The Canucks only had a few restricted free agents, but the most talked about RFA was one that doesn't actually play for the team.
Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish, who is currently an RFA, elected to avoid arbitration and instead remains unsigned. Rumblings are that McTavish is unhappy about the lack of progress regarding his next contract, sparking rumors about the possibility of teams attempting to offer-sheet the 22-year-old forward.
At the age of 22, McTavish has already developed into a solidified second-line center for the Ducks, behind Swedish star Leo Carlsson. In 76 games last season, McTavish had 22 goals and 52 points, which tied him for the team lead in goals and put him only three points short of the team lead in points.
Getting McTavish would set the Canucks up for years
It may be a pipe dream, but if the Canucks were able to successfully offersheet McTavish to a contract that the Ducks opted not to match, it would set the Canucks up for years.
The Canucks drafted Braden Cootes in this year's draft, and while he projects to be a good 2nd- or 3rd-line center, he won't be NHL-ready for at least a few seasons. The Canucks need help at center, now. The team is projected to start the season with Filip Chytil as the team's second-line center. After coming over to the Canucks from the New York Rangers in the JT Miller Trade, Chytil showed his value as a play-driving center during his first season with the Canucks but his season was unfortunately cut short due to injury.
If the Canucks were to throw an offer sheet at McTavish, the team would need to make some trades to clear cap. Rumors have begun to circulate that the team could look to move Dakota Joshua or Teddy Blueger as a way to free up some cap space.
With McTavish, the Canucks could have some of the best center depth in the league in a few years. Pettersson and McTavish followed by Cootes and Raty down the middle. As a Canucks fan, it would be a dream come true.
It would take a lot for the Canucks to snag McTavish from the Ducks
It's likely whatever contract the Canucks throw at the Ducks, they would be more than able to match. The Ducks are a team that should be entering their playoff window in a few years, which is why they would likely opt to match an offer sheet rather than opt for draft pick compensation.
If it gets to the point where McTavish decides he wants a trade away from the Ducks, the Canucks would likely have to pay a premium to convince the Ducks to trade him to a division rival. If I were Patrik Alvin, I would do whatever it takes to try and make a deal happen. How often does a 22-year-old center become available?