The NHL rumor mill is churning, and the latest bombshell connects the Detroit Red Wings to disgruntled Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. But hold your horses, Wings fans. While the idea of adding the 2021 3rd overall pick is tantalizing, the reported asking price from Ducks’ GM Pat Verbeek is astronomical, and frankly, a non-starter for Detroit.
Rumors suggest Verbeek isn’t looking for picks or prospects; he wants an immediate, impact player in a one-for-one swap. The name being floated? Moritz Seider. Yes, that Moritz Seider. This isn’t just a rumor; it’s a high-stakes staring contest between two savvy GMs, Steve Yzerman and his former Detroit teammate Verbeek. Let’s break down why this is more smoke than fire, but why it’s still significant.
Why Pat Verbeek’s Asking Price is a King’s Ransom
From my perspective, this demand is classic negotiation posturing from Pat Verbeek. The Ducks are in a tough spot. They can’t afford a prolonged holdout with a player of McTavish’s caliber, but they also can’t be seen as losing a trade. By setting the price at a Norris-caliber defenseman like Moritz Seider, Verbeek sends a clear message to the rest of the league: if you want our guy, you’re giving up a foundational piece.
The comparison to the Patrik Laine-for-Piere-Luc Dubois deal is apt; it was a pure hockey trade of two young, high-end players with contract issues. Verbeek is trying to replicate that scenario. He needs a player who can step in and immediately help the Ducks push for the playoffs this season. A package of prospects like Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Marco Kasper, while excellent, doesn’t achieve that immediate goal. Verbeek is essentially telling Yzerman, “Solve my problem by giving me one of your cornerstone players.”
What’s Steve Yzerman’s Next Move?
Let’s be crystal clear: Steve Yzerman is not trading Moritz Seider. Full stop. Seider is the bedrock of Detroit’s defense and a future captain. Trading him for any forward, even one as talented as McTavish, would be organizational malpractice. The package of Sandin-Pellikka and Kasper is equally unlikely, as it would gut the Red Wings’ prospect pipeline of its top defenseman and forward.
So, why are the Red Wings even linked here? Yzerman is doing his due diligence. He sees a high-end player who is unhappy and is testing the waters. My insight is that Yzerman likely made a more reasonable offer that was rejected, prompting this leak from the Ducks’ side to drive up the market. Don’t expect a move here unless Verbeek’s asking price comes crashing back to reality.
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The post Red Wings and Ducks Talking McTavish? The Astronomical Price Detroit Won’t Pay appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
