Ducks' Mason McTavish trade plans made clear, and it could matter to Maple Leafs, Red Wings

Mason McTavish seems ready for a fresh start.

He's still young and talented, but his welcome with the Anaheim Ducks feels to have been worn out. A trade could be in everyone's best interests.

In a new trade rankings board this week, The Athletic's Chris Johnston puts McTavish as his sixth-ranked player who could potentially be available.

And in his blurb, Johnston makes it quite clear that the Ducks and McTavish are likely to split up:

"This was not the kind of season McTavish or the Ducks had in mind when they agreed to a $42 million, six-year extension in September. Not only did the 23-year-old find himself an occasional healthy scratch, including during the playoffs, but he saw a decline in his average ice time and offensive production. The puck-handling skills, vision and shot that made McTavish a top draft pick remain, but so do some of the questions about his skating ability. A fresh start is likely coming."

MORE: It's time to ask a serious Matthew Knies question

Maybe most intriguingly is that within The Athletic article itself, they link to a story they wrote earlier this month about McTavish being a potential trade chip in a bigger blockbuster.

The names thrown out in that earlier story: Toronto's Auston Matthews, and Detroit's Dylan Larkin.

Now at this point, Matthews hasn't requested a trade, and Larkin's reported trade list doesn't include Anaheim.

Things can change, though, particularly if a talented young player like McTavish gets brought to the table.

This isn't to say deals like that will materialize, but simply that they're worth watching as McTavish trade rumors start to bubble into the summer.

More NHL news:

• Jack Eichel turned into Ben Simmons
• Frederik Andersen heading toward an unceremonious exit
• Cale Makar is about to become a lot more expensive
• Sabres have reached the Alex Tuch pivot point
• Sidney Crosby trade plans did a 180 for the Penguins