Full Breakdown
Mason McTavish Traded to St. Louis Blues for Two First-Round Picks
6/27/2026, 1:02:16 PM
Trade Overview
On the night of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Anaheim Ducks sent forward Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the No. 15 and No. 29 overall selections. Anaheim used the No. 15 pick to draft right-winger Nikita Klepov of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. The Ducks then packaged the No. 29 pick with a fourth-round (No. 117) selection and traded them to the Vegas Golden Knights for the No. 28 pick, which became left-winger Marcus Nordmark.
Background & Context
The Ducks reached the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, falling to the Vegas Golden Knights on May 14, 2026. During that postseason McTavish saw his ice time drop from 16:53 to 12:25 minutes per game and was a healthy scratch twice. Entering the final year of a six-year, $42 million contract (average $7 million cap hit), the 23-year-old posted 17 goals and 24 assists (41 points) in 75 regular-season games—a decline from his 52-point high in 2024-25. The move frees an estimated $44.6 million in cap space, allowing Anaheim to re-sign restricted-free agents such as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Pavel Mintyukov while addressing a pending defensive exodus.
St. Louis, which missed the playoffs by four points, entered the draft with a clear need for a top-six center. The Blues’ roster already includes Robert Thomas, Dalibor Dvorsky and Pius Suter, but the organization sought a versatile forward who could also play wing.
Key Figures
- Mason McTavish – former No. 3 overall pick (2021), former Team Canada captain.
- Pat Verbeek – General Manager, Anaheim Ducks.
- Doug Armstrong – General Manager, St. Louis Blues.
- Gary Bettman – NHL Commissioner, announced the trade.
Timeline
- May 14, 2026 – Ducks eliminated in the second playoff round.
- June 26, 2026 – Trade announced at the NHL Draft; Ducks select Klepov (15th).
- June 26, 2026 (later) – Ducks trade 29th + 117th picks to Vegas; select Nordmark (28th).
Data & Statistics
- McTavish: 304 career games, 77 G, 104 A, 181 P; 2025-26 season 17 G, 24 A, 41 P; playoff line 1 G, 5 A in 10 games.
- Klepov: 97 points (37 G, 60 A) in 67 OHL games; OHL Rookie of the Year, first American to win the Eddie Powers Trophy since 2019.
- Nordmark: 38 points in 25 Swedish junior games; gold at the 2026 U-18 World Championship.
- Cap Impact: Ducks gain $44.623 million in flexibility; Blues assume McTavish’s $7 million AAV contract through 2030-31.
Why It Matters
For Anaheim, the trade accelerates a rebuild centered on young talent and cap management, positioning the club to retain its emerging core and add defensive depth via free agency. For St. Louis, acquiring a proven center provides immediate depth and a potential top-six option, helping the Blues address the middle-line void that contributed to missing the postseason.
Official Statements & Responses
Ducks GM Pat Verbeek explained that the decision “became kind of clear as we got into the draft” and that Klepov’s availability “allowed us to have roster flexibility.” Blues GM Doug Armstrong highlighted McTavish’s “pedigree” and emphasized that “for a team like St. Louis, it’s important to get players that we can grow and build with.” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman formally announced the transaction during the draft broadcast.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts noted McTavish’s reduced role under coach Joel Quenneville and his regression from a 52-point season to 41 points, raising questions about his ability to return to top-six form. The trade is viewed as a low-risk, high-reward gamble for the Blues, while some observers caution that the Ducks may have sacrificed short-term talent for future flexibility.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the original ownership of the exchanged picks: one account attributes the No. 15 pick to a prior Justin Faulk trade with Detroit, while another traces the No. 29 pick to a series of trades involving Colorado and the New York Islanders. No direct criticism from Ducks leadership beyond performance concerns appears in the available material.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It wasn't an easy decision. I lingered over it for a couple weeks,” — Pat Verbeek, Ducks GM
- “There were a lot of discussions and that sort of thing, and so it became kind of clear as we got into the draft a little bit. When Klepov was there, that really helped us make the decision. I think that was the primary drive behind it and, at the same time, allowed us to have (roster) flexibility.” — Pat Verbeek, Ducks GM
- “For a team like St. Louis, it's important to get players that we can grow and build with,” — Doug Armstrong, Blues GM
- “Louis Blues acquired center Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks for the No.” — Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner
