Canadiens second-line search puts Mason McTavish on the radar

The Montreal Canadiens’ offseason conversation continues to circle their second-line center position, and a recent discussion around Mason McTavish has added a new name to that list. Yahoo Sports framed the situation as an open question: if McTavish’s production dipped with the Anaheim Ducks, could it also create an opportunity for Montreal to address a roster need by exploring a potential trade with Ducks GM Pat Verbeek.

Montreal’s need is rooted in how the team has handled the center spot behind (and adjacent to) its top options. Yahoo Sports described Oliver Kapanen as having earned the second-line center role “by default” entering the season, but later struggling under the full NHL workload. The same report also suggested that, in the playoffs, Kapanen’s usage shifted and the Canadiens turned to Jake Evans, portraying Evans as more of a supporting center than a true second-line centerpiece for a contending lineup.

The issue for the Canadiens is not effort or responsibility, it is fit. Yahoo Sports’ analysis pointed to the difference between being serviceable in the role and being able to consistently drive scoring chances with a playmaking partner. In its view, Evans’ profile is not yet aligned with the demands of a second line built around a top-end creator, specifically mentioning Ivan Demidov as the type of winger who needs a center with more finishing and game-breaking upside.

McTavish’s appeal is that he is already an NHL center who has played a meaningful role for Anaheim and carries the organizational expectation that comes with that position. But Yahoo Sports also characterized his most recent season as a “down year,” which is the central reason the Canadiens’ front office could be tempted to investigate. In NHL roster-building terms, Montreal does not need only a warm body for the second line, it needs a player who can elevate the group’s scoring reliability when the game tightens.

At the same time, McTavish’s hypothetical candidacy comes with obvious caveats. A season can be affected by ice time, linemate quality, special-teams deployment, and the simple variance that comes with an 82-game schedule. Without additional, confirmed reporting on how Anaheim would view his role or whether Montreal has a realistic trade path, the idea remains speculative rather than actionable.

Still, it is not hard to understand why this kind of matchup is surfacing now. Montreal is in a phase where improving the center depth can change how the team is structured offensively, not just how it is staffed. A better second-line center can stabilize possession, reduce matchup stress on the top line, and create a clearer game plan for generating chances in the middle portion of games.

For Canadiens fans and NHL observers, the next watch items are straightforward. If there are signs in Anaheim’s offseason posture that McTavish is available or could see role changes, the connection to Montreal becomes more than a talking point. If Montreal instead targets a center through other channels such as free agency, trades elsewhere, or internal development, McTavish’s name may fade quickly. Either way, Montreal’s priority remains the same, getting a center who can anchor a second line capable of supporting a true top-flight talent ecosystem.