The Anaheim Ducks have traded center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for two first-round picks — the 15th and 29th selections in the 2026 NHL Draft — ESPN reported. The deal, struck during the draft, sends a 23-year-old former top-three pick to St. Louis and deepens Anaheim's already substantial store of young talent and draft capital.
Who McTavish is
Anaheim selected McTavish third overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, a high pedigree that brought matching expectations. Over five seasons he became a regular contributor, posting 181 points (77 goals, 104 assists) in 304 regular-season games, according to NHL.com. His best campaign came in 2024-25, with 20 goals and 52 points; his most recent season brought 17 goals and 41 points. He carries a $7 million annual cap hit on a contract that runs for several more years, per The Hockey Writers.
Why Anaheim moved
Trading a former third overall pick may look counterintuitive, but the Ducks are operating from a position of depth. The club reached the playoffs this past season for the first time since 2017-18 before being eliminated in the second round, and McTavish's role had narrowed during that run. By converting him into two first-rounders, Anaheim adds to a pipeline already anchored by young players such as Leo Carlsson and goaltender Lukas Dostal, while preserving significant salary-cap flexibility to address other needs.
Why St. Louis paid the price
The Blues approached the draft from a more pressing position, having missed the playoffs and searched for a reliable second-line center to drive play. McTavish, signed long-term and entering his prime years, answers that need with proven NHL production rather than the uncertainty of a prospect. St. Louis had stockpiled draft picks heading into the weekend, giving it the room to spend two first-rounders on an established player without stripping its prospect base.
A draft-weekend dynamic
The trade fits a familiar pattern at the NHL Draft, where teams willing to move veteran talent during the event can command a premium from clubs eager to accelerate their timelines. For Anaheim, the two first-round picks are leverage for the future; for St. Louis, they are the cost of buying time. Whether McTavish becomes the centerpiece of a Blues revival or a costly bet will take seasons to judge — but both clubs left the draft moving with clear purpose, in opposite directions.
