Penguins and Ducks Emerge as Perfect Trade Partners for Young Star Forward

According to multiple reports, including a recent report from Frank Seravalli, the Ducks have made McTavish available on the trade market.

Indeed, the 22-year-old center, a restricted free agent, could have already played his last game with the team that drafted him third overall in 2021.

Seravalli revealed that the level of interest is high:

Among those teams, the Penguins stand out as a great fit.

With General Manager Kyle Dubas actively trying to rejuvenate his team by trading veterans to bring young players, McTavish, with his blend of grit and scoring upside, could help bridge the gap between the aging core and the younger players.

From Anaheim's perspective, Rickard Rakell would be a satisfying return. The 32-year-old winger thrived last season in Pittsburgh, scoring 35 goals and 70 points, both career highs.

A return to the Ducks, who drafted him 30th overall back in 2011, would bring valuable experience and an offensive boost behind Troy Terry on the right side.

The Ducks' GM, Pat Verbeek, has shown he isn't shy about shaking things up, especially after dealing Trevor Zegras to Philadelphia earlier this summer.

With training camps roughly seven weeks away, expect more buzz around these two clubs. If a deal happens, it could be a rare win-win: Anaheim gets help for the now, and Pittsburgh gets its next foundational piece.

Last season, McTavish registered the best season of his career so far with 22 goals and 52 points in 76 games.