After months of fruitless negotiations that led him to holding out of training camp, center Mason McTavish signed a six-year deal to return to the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced Saturday.
The deal for the restricted free agent is reportedly worth $42 million.
“Today is an exciting day for me and my family to commit my long-term future to the Anaheim Ducks,” McTavish said in a news release. “I believe in the direction of this organization and the group we have in the locker room. We’re building something special and I want to help this team take the next step toward becoming a consistent playoff contender and, ultimately, a championship team.”
McTavish had been skating with his teammates in California early last week before going home to Canada before the Ducks’ first full practices under new coach Joel Quenneville.
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek expressed frustration last week with McTavish’s absence from camp, saying, “It’s disappointing that he’s not here, obviously. We have virtually a whole new coaching staff, and the group is really excited like I’ve never seen before. There’s a new system that’s getting implemented. There’s a lot of things to learn, and it takes a lot of reps to get it under each player’s belt. So when Mason gets here, he’s got a lot of catching up to do.”
Verbeek was feeling a lot better after the deal was reached.
“Mason is a key part of our team, and we’re excited to reach a long-term agreement that reflects his importance to our future,” Verbeek said. “He’s a highly skilled, physical, and competitive player who plays the game the right way. Mason has already made a significant impact at a young age, and we’re confident he’ll continue to grow into a top player as we build toward sustained success.”
McTavish was the team’s second-leading scorer last season with 22 goals and 30 assists, both personal bests. He added 180 shots on net and 70 hits in 76 regular-season appearances.
It was the third straight season reaching the 40-point threshold for the 22-year-old, who was taken by the Ducks with the third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
He has 140 points (60 goals, 80 assists) in 229 career games, all with Anaheim.
