Anaheim Ducks trade Mason McTavish to St. Louis Blues for first-round picks
The Anaheim Ducks have traded center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for two first-round selections in the NHL draft.
Anaheim acquired the 15th and 29th overall picks on Friday, immediately using the earlier selection to draft Saginaw Spirit winger Nikita Klepov.
Speculation regarding the 23-year-old’s future intensified after the franchise was eliminated from the playoffs in the second round by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Decreased playoff role prompts Anaheim exit
The versatile forward saw his ice time severely restricted during the postseason, managing six points in 10 games while averaging just 12 minutes and 25 seconds per night.
His diminished usage was a surprising development given the successful emergence of fellow young core members like Leo Carlsson, Lukas Dostal and Cutter Gauthier.
During the recent regular season, the former standout prospect tallied 17 goals and 41 points across 75 appearances.
Cap space considerations and Blues rebuild
The transaction provides St. Louis with a much-needed top-six option capable of playing centrally or on the wing.
They will hope their new acquisition can rediscover the dominant form that yielded a career-best 52 points during the 2024-25 campaign.
For Anaheim, the move creates significant financial flexibility, pushing their projected salary cap space past the $44m mark.
This newly acquired room is expected to fund contract extensions for restricted free agents and aid in rebuilding a depleted defensive unit.