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Mason McTavish practices with the Ottawa 67s

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 4:02 PM ET

Today is September 18. The start of the NHL season is fast approaching… and in Anaheim, there’s one file that’s still getting a lot of attention.You don’t have to go into it in detail to understand that I’m referring to Mason McTavish ‘s. The center still doesn’t have a contract for next season, and he won’t be showing up at the Ducks’ camp, so what’s he doing in the meantime? Earlier today, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that McTavish is currently practicing with… the Ottawa 67’s. He’s keeping in shape by skating with a junior team (he’s never played with the 67’s), and discussions continue to progress between his clan and that of the Ducks with a view to signing a new contract. Where it stalls is in the term. The Ducks aren’t interested in offering him a bridge contract and this may explain why he hasn’t signed yet, even though the Ducks will start their season in less than a month (October 9).

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 – Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 18, 2025

[content-ads] Sounds a bit like the Trevor Zegras situation back in the day.

Remember: Zegras was in the same boat, he didn’t attend the Ducks’ training camp and he finally signed a three-year contract on October 2 (2023), just a few days before the start of the campaign.Will we see the same thing happen with McTavish in the coming weeks?

Anaheim’s first line, 22-year-old center going without a contract 3 weeks into September.

Trevor Zegras Mason McTavish pic.twitter.com/UJvbc0ArSJ– Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) September 18, 2025

There’s uncertainty in the McTavish file and the Ducks have to think of a solution.

We’re talking about a 3rd overall pick, a center who can do a lot of things on the ice… and he can help this club take the next step. And for that to happen, the Ducks will need all the resources they can get. McTavish has to be part of the equation… unless Pat Verbeek (GM) finds a partner to dance with to get other tools that can help the team right away. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Oh…

Alex Ovechkin left the ice today at training camp to be evaluated for a lower-body injury pic.twitter.com/brQTdupIDg

– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 18, 2025

– I like it.

29 pic.twitter.com/kdNjNCj7G5

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) September 18, 2025

– Hehe.

Leafs got….Joshua Roy? pic.twitter.com/fLjF1NNDHQ

– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) September 18, 2025

– The Stars have such a nice club on paper.

Putting the NHL lines together from day 1:

Benn – Johnston – Rantanen Robertson – Hintz – Bourque Steel – Duchene – Seguin Bäck – Faksa – Bastian/Blackwell Lindell – Heiskanen Harley – Lundkvist Bichsel – Lyubushkin Oettinger DeSmith – Sam Nestler (@samnestler) September 18, 2025

– The state of play in MLB :

1 – Milwaukee Brewers (1) 2 – Philadelphia Phillies (2) 3 – Toronto Blue Jays (3) 4 – Chicago Cubs (6) 5 – Los Angeles Dodgers (7) (….) https://t.co/LaRGHPFj3H –

Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) September 18, 2025

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

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