NHL.com released their 2024-25 points projections for Anaheim Ducks players. Several projections seem low if they are to make the expected strides toward contention, including Mason McTavish.
NHL.com released their 2024-25 points projections for Anaheim Ducks players. Several projections seem low if they are to make the expected strides toward contention, including Mason McTavish.
NHL.com released their 2024-25 fantasy hockey projections for the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks expect several young core pieces on their roster to take significant strides in the upcoming season. If they do, NHL.com's projections should come in far under their expected totals.
Mason McTavish will be entering his third full NHL season in 2024-25. He scored 43 points in 80 games during his rookie season of 2022-23 and 42 points in 64 games in 2023-24. NHL.com projected he will score 56 points in 2024-25.
McTavish battled various injuries and missed 18 games at different points in the season, including a sprained MCL which knocked him out of the lineup for the Ducks' final six games of 2023-24.
McTavish's 5v5 scoring rate increased from 1.44 points per 60 minutes in his rookie season to a team-leading 1.93 last season and was producing at a 54-point pace had he played all 82 games in 2023-24.
Though he scored at the highest rate on a per 60-minute basis of any Ducks player last season, McTavish only averaged 16:17 TOI per game. While that was an increase from his rookie season by nearly a full minute per game, his scoring rate likely dictated that number could have been higher.
McTavish was among the most penalized players in the NHL last season, serving 86 penalty minutes and finishing fourth in the league with 36 minor penalties taken. If he were to simply cut that number in half and sit in the box for 43 minutes in 2024-25, his ice time would increase by over 30 seconds per game.
McTavish was also tied for sixth on the Ducks in ATOI among forwards on the power play. Last season, the Ducks ran a merit-based power play deployment system between their two units in which the more successful one at a given time would get the nod to start the next power play.
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McTavish saw his ATOI on the power play drop from 2:31 in 2022-23 to 2:17 in 2023-24. He also saw his scoring rate with a man advantage dip from 4.16 points/60 minutes to 3.27.
On June 21, the Ducks added Rich Clune to their coaching staff as the assistant coach responsible for the forward group as well as power play tactics and deployment.
Clune will likely shuffle the power play units until he finds the most effective combination and deployment method. If McTavish can earn consistent minutes on the Ducks' top power play unit moving forward, he could witness his ice time increase by another 30 seconds per game.
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If McTavish can continue to progress in terms of his 5v5 scoring, return to his rookie scoring rate with a man advantage, and naturally earn more ice time on a nightly basis, he should easily eclipse the 54 total points projected by NHL.com. There isn't anything suggesting he can't.
McTavish took several strides in his progression, significantly polishing his game from his rookie season to his sophomore season. To match the increase in his point production, he worked to increase his face-off percentage from 42.3% in 2022-23 to 51.7% last season, giving his line extended puck possession time.
During play, he increased his impact as a play-driving center, primarily between wingers Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome. He supported pucks well as they moved up the wall in the defensive zone on breakouts and was a strong puck-transporter through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone.
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Where McTavish most stood out last season was in the small areas of the ice. He found ways to protect pucks along the boards, find teammates in the open ice he singlehandedly created, and consistently won 1v1 battles. When he lost a battle, he'd display an exceptionally high motor to win those pucks back quickly.
If there were areas to improve upon in his third year as he did at the face-off dot and along the boards in his second year, it would be to have a greater positive impact low in the defensive zone and become more of a net-front threat offensively.
Due to his nature as a potent and aggressive forechecker, when pucks went the other way toward the defensive zone, McTavish had to assume responsibilities higher in the D-zone. Vatrano or Strome were often tasked with duties as the low forward in defensive zone coverage, an area in which McTavish could thrive.
While he has shown an aptitude for finding soft ice off the puck in the offensive zone, a lethal shot, and a nose for loose pucks around the net, when the puck drifts to the point, he could increase his impact in front of the net, fighting for screen position and tipping shots from the blueline.
McTavish has consistently displayed his remarkable work ethic and competitive drive, improving facets of his game significantly throughout his young career. Continued progression will likely earn him more ice time and congruently, a greater impact on the scoresheet.
Barring health and on his current trajectory, McTavish should easily clear the 56-point mark set by NHL.com's projection.