Mason McTavish and Martin St-Louis are still linked, but Montreal may not be alone in this chase.
The core of the story does not change. Darren Dreger's comment put the Canadiens in the frame, while also raising the same question as before: does McTavish really fit the way Montreal wants to play?
That is still the tension around this file. McTavish is not being questioned as a player. He is being questioned as a style match for a club that leans on pace, pressure, and quick support through the neutral zone.
On paper, the player still makes sense. McTavish is 23, he is listed at 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, and he finished 2025-26 with 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games for Anaheim.
That is enough production to keep teams interested. His playoff line matters too, because he put up 6 points in 10 games, which tells front offices there may be another layer to pull out of him.
For Montreal, the attraction is obvious. The Canadiens already have Nick Suzuki locked in as the top center, but the club still keeps getting tied to second-line help with more size and bite down the middle.
That said, this may not be a one-team conversation anymore. Recent reporting and rumor tracking have also pushed the Red Wings, the Devils, and the Flyers into the wider McTavish picture.
" Darren Dreger: Re Mason McTavish: I think of the Canadiens; if you're Montreal you're looking at what you have and you're going okay well, is McTavish capable of playing the game the way we play; some would question that - First Up (6/19) "
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Four teams are reportedly battling for a former top-3 draft pick
That changes the feel of the story. If Detroit, New Jersey, and Philadelphia are sniffing around too, this stops being a pure Canadiens fit debate and starts looking more like a broader market battle.
Detroit makes sense from a roster standpoint. The Red Wings have already been mentioned as a team to watch, and any club still trying to harden its middle six is going to look at McTavish.
Philadelphia fits the same lane. The Flyers have been linked in recent trade chatter, and they are the kind of team that would value a young center with edge, draft pedigree, and room to grow.
The Devils belong in the discussion too. They have also been named among teams previously linked to McTavish, which matters because New Jersey is built to move fast and could still look for more support behind its stars.
For Montreal, none of this erases the fit question. It just adds pressure. If the Canadiens really want McTavish, they may need to decide fast whether they believe the player can adapt to their identity.
That is why this rumor has more bite now. Mason McTavish is not just a Montreal talking point anymore. He looks like a center drawing real league-wide attention, and the Canadiens may have to beat more than one rival to get him.
Should the Canadiens take the gamble on Mason McTavish despite the fit questions?
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