Matt Coronato's contract may well impact Mason McTavish's next deal with the Anaheim Ducks

Entering a crucial offseason, all attention is set on how the Anaheim Ducks will structure a new deal for one of their most promising young stars. With the salary cap expected to rise and the market evolving, the timing could not be more fortuitous. The contract extension of Matt Coronato with the Calgary Flames serves as the comparison at this point. The two players have similarities in terms of age and draft class, but McTavish's consistent NHL impact has made the negotiation more challenging for the Ducks.

One would think the $6.5 million, seven-year contract would be considered aggressive for a player with only one full NHL season to his credit, but the fact that it weighs on Anaheim management now, as they enter negotiations with Mason McTavish, whose on-ice contributions have been perhaps more consistent and impactful. Being the third overall pick in 2021, he has notched three seasons above 40 points and finished second in team scoring last year with 52 points in 76 games.

Being selected ten places after McTavish, Coronato put together an impressive 47 points in 77 games this year, but really, it stands in stark contrast to McTavish’s consistency over three years. If the salary cap, currently at $88 million, is projected to rise to $113.5 million by the 2027-28 season, then the longer-term deals signed today could be labeled near steals in a handful of years. This raises a pertinent question for Anaheim's front office: Should they go ahead and lock McTavish in on a long-term deal now at today's market rate or give him a shorter-term bridge contract?

General Manager Pat Verbeek has always preferred bridge deals to gauge a player’s full potential before offering long-term assurances. It worked for Anaheim over the last couple of trades with Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale but with delay and uncertainty. Applying the same approach to McTavish may garner short-term gains in YODs but put them in an unpleasant position with a huge hike in his valuation if he continues trending upward.
From McTavish's perspective, the Coronato deal may represent the reinforcement of the bargaining position. It shows that teams are willing to spend early on young talent, especially with cap growth ahead. Should Anaheim undervalue his market value, McTavish and his agent may press for a structure that works with his trajectory rather than one that reflects the Ducks' usually conservative stance.
Also Read: Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Cirelli, and Sam Reinhart shine as Selke Trophy finalists
With both sides having legitimate arguments and the cap expanding, Mason McTavish's next contract may become the foundation of the Ducks' long-term future. Be it with stability or patience on Anaheim's part, the shadow of Matt Coronato's extension will surely cast over every step of the negotiation.