Blues and Rangers emerge as the leading bidders for Ducks center Mason McTavish, according to report

The NHL trade landscape is tightening around Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, with a fresh report narrowing the bidding to two teams. Yahoo Sports, citing TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, says the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers are the final contenders with the strongest offers for the Ducks forward-turned-center in what has become a high-profile player-movement situation.

For the Blues, the appeal is straightforward: McTavish projects as a top-six type of center who can carry defensive and offensive responsibility at the NHL level. If St. Louis is indeed among the two teams putting offers forward, it would report a targeted roster upgrade rather than a general “depth” approach, particularly at a position that tends to dictate matchups and power-play structure.

For the Rangers, the reported interest fits their long-term pattern of trying to keep their lineup balanced around center depth and game-control roles. In New York’s case, a move for a talented young pivot from Anaheim would also reflect a willingness to reshape the core of the roster through acquisition, not just internal development. A successful trade would put a new engine in the middle of the ice and potentially affect how New York deploys its forward groups against top competition.

The key detail in the report is that the “two-team race” framing implies McTavish’s availability has narrowed to a late-stage set of negotiations, not a broad, multi-club sweep. However, there is an important caveat: this is still a reporting-based claim about offers, not a confirmed transaction. The NHL offseason often includes competing valuations, shifting cap and roster math, and timing considerations that can change even after teams appear close.

What to watch next is whether Anaheim’s side offers clarity on the decision. In most trade windows, the next meaningful report is either a formal agreement or a public indication that talks have ended. If the Blues and Rangers remain the final two, supporters of both franchises should track whether either team’s framework becomes “workable” in the way trades require, including how many assets might be involved and how the Ducks intend to reshape their forward group.

Until an agreement is announced, McTavish remains a player at the center of trade speculation with two heavy-hitting franchises positioned as front-runners. The outcome will matter for both organizations because a center addition (or a center retention decision by Anaheim) can ripple through line construction, special-teams plans, and how each team prepares for the next phase of the regular season.