Bold Dallas Trade Proposal Swaps RFAs to Acquire Rising Star Center
Trade ideas from national media often resemble online shopping: the product looks great in pictures, but the reality might not fit as well when it arrives.
However, a proposal from the host of Daily Faceoff’s The Sheet with Jeff Marek might actually hold some merit, despite his own admission that it’s a bit “irresponsible.” The suggested trade between the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks goes as follows:
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Anaheim receives: Jason Robertson
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Dallas receives: Mason McTavish, Olen Zellweger, and a 2026 first-round pick
In many cases, pundits, with no emotional attachment to the teams involved, throw out random names, add some prospects and draft picks, and suddenly have a potential blockbuster on their hands. But a trade proposal is more plausible when there’s some logic behind the players involved.
While it’s unrealistic to think that a superstar on a team-friendly contract can be traded for a few prospects and draft picks, the situation changes when there’s uncertainty about pending free agency. A 28-year-old veteran about to hit unrestricted free agency or a 22-year-old coming off an entry-level deal can make teams consider potential trades more seriously.
Recent reports about stalled negotiations only add fuel to the fire, hinting at a rift between player and team that could lead to a trade. Sometimes, contract impasses feel like they’re heading toward an inevitable split.
This is the current vibe surrounding Mason McTavish and the Anaheim Ducks.
Stalled Negotiations Between McTavish and Anaheim Raise Concerns
McTavish, the 22-year-old center drafted No. 3 overall in 2021, is one of several restricted free agents who missed training camp. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman noted during an appearance on NHL Tonight that the lack of progress in McTavish’s contract talks has a distinctly negative tone, with the young star having returned to Ottawa to train with his former junior team.
Friedman explained, “It’s always a bad sign when that happens.”
While there are reports that the two sides are close on the contract length, they are still “pretty far apart” on the financials. Anaheim’s general manager, Pat Verbeek, is known for his tough negotiating style, and with a growing list of young players like McTavish also seeking new deals, Friedman suggested that Verbeek is trying to keep salaries under control.
“There’s a lot of grinders in this negotiation,” Friedman added, referring to the tough negotiators on both sides, including Verbeek, Ducks contract expert Jeff Solomon, and McTavish’s agent, Pat Morris.
Jason Robertson’s Pending Free Agency and the Changing Salary Cap Landscape
Jason Robertson’s situation hasn’t made as many headlines as some other free-agent discussions, but the Dallas front office has certainly been considering the future. The 26-year-old winger is entering the final year of a four-year, $31 million contract and is due for a significant pay raise from his current $7.75 million cap hit. With the NHL entering a new salary cap era, Robertson could command a lucrative deal that exceeds $10 million per season.
Dallas, having recently signed Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year, $96 million deal, may hesitate to commit to another hefty contract. On the other hand, Anaheim has ample salary cap space, making it a prime candidate to add a player like Robertson, who could complement a young core including Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Jackson LaCombe.
As Marek put it, “Let’s just have some fun and be irresponsible here.”
A potential pairing of Robertson with Carlsson on Anaheim’s top line could create a dynamic duo, while McTavish would step in as Dallas’ No. 2 center, allowing Wyatt Johnston to move to the wing.
“This is a great idea,” said podcast guest Greg Wyshinski. “I think it would benefit both teams now and in the future.”
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