Mason McTavish Remains Unsigned as Ducks Near NHL 2025 Preseason

(Sam Navarro)

As the Anaheim Ducks approach the start of the 2025 NHL preseason, with their first game scheduled for September 21, 2025, one of their most notable players, Mason McTavish, remains unsigned. McTavish is currently a restricted free agent, awaiting a contract that would make him eligible to participate in the 2025–26 NHL season.

On September 18, 2025, in an interview General Manager Pat Verbeek commented, “We’re closing in, but we’re not there yet”. Verbeek also expressed disappointment that McTavish is unable to attend the Ducks’ preseason camp. However, as stated by Verbeek, in the end he is looking for “a fair market value deal” as he did with Troy Terry and Lucas Dostal in the past.

Negotiations between the two parties are ongoing and stated as “normal” or “amicable”, with no publicly known resolution in sight. It is worth noting that if a restricted free agent does not sign a contract by the December 1st deadline, they become ineligible to play for the remainder of the NHL season. 

While there is still plenty of time for McTavish and Verbeek to reach an agreement, the ideal outcome would see a deal finalized before the regular season begins on Thursday, October 9, 2025, where the Ducks are set to play the Seattle Kraken.

References

The Sporting Tribune (2025). https://youtu.be/0oUdnEFp-rg?si=-VtePTxbezyPtFl9