McTavish Traded To St. Louis

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

When the 2026 NHL entry draft started the Anaheim Ducks had no first round picks. Once the 14th overall pick was selected, then it was announced that Anaheim traded Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for the 15th and 29th overall picks in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

Anaheim then later traded the 29th overall pick and their 4th round 117th pick to Vegas for the 28th overall pick.

The Ducks selected Nikita Klepov 15th overall pick. He 6’0″ and about 186 pounds. He brings an aggressive game going into dirty areas, but can get out of position at times. He is strong on the puck and is a good passer finding his open teammates. He was the leading scoring the OHL past year with 97 total points (37 G + 60 A) and was the OHL rookie of the year. He possesses a lethal one-timer reminiscent of Evgeni Malkin. His skating does need some work as he sometimes get pushed to the perimeter. The Ducks made the initial trade contingent on Nikita Klepov being available at 15th overall according to Pierre LeBrun.

The Ducks selected Marcus Nordmark with the 28th overall pick. He has good size at 6’2″ and 187 pounds. The Swedish left-winger possesses elite playmaking vision, creative puck skills, and high-end hockey IQ. He is good off the rush and has a good ability to find an open skater. There is some concern about his defensive game and physicality. Some scouts view him as a boom-or-bust prospect.

McTavish was drafted third overall by Anaheim in the 2021 NHL entry draft. He made his debut in the 2021-22 season playing nine games and posting three total points (2 G + 1 A). His first full NHL season was the following year where he recorded 43 total points (17 G + 26 A) in 80 games. Overall, McTavish registered 181 total points (77 G + 104 A) in 304 NHL games.

During most of his time in Anaheim, McTavish had been a top six forward. Recently this season he filled more of a top nine forward role. He seemed to fall out of favor in the playoffs as he was a healthy scratch against the Vegas Golden Knights in Games 2 and 3. Like Zellweger, who was traded earlier in the day, McTavish fell out of favor with Anaheim’s management.

Analysis:

The initial trade to St. Louis is great for the Anaheim Ducks. The fact they were able to get not one, but two first round picks for McTavish is amazing. There was tons of trade talk leading up to this that the Blues would give the Ducks a first round draft pick for McTavish and Anaheim was able to get two first rounders in return. I don’t know if the Ducks really needed to trade the Vegas Golden Knights to move up one spot to 28th, but they must be very high on Marcus Nordmark in order to make that deal. Based on the initial scouting reports Anaheim drafted two solid players in the first round.

The St. Louis Blues overpaid for McTavish in terms of draft picks, but they didn’t lose any roster players. I would have liked to see the Ducks get Colton Parayko or Robert Thomas and a first round pick in this deal, but word on the street is the Blues weren’t interested in moving either of those players.

Anaheim did clear $7 million from the cap all the way through the 2030-31 season. The Ducks now have about $44 million in cap space per Puck Pedia. Anaheim has to still sign Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Tyson Hinds, and Pavel Mintyukov which will command more than half of that. Anaheim didn’t get a roster player in the initial trade, but the move does give the Ducks more flexibility to sign the above mentioned players and to try to acquire others via free agency or trade.

Anaheim still has to figure out how to replenish their blue line with John Carlson, Radko Gudas, and Jacob Trouba all likely hitting free agency. Pat Verbeek told the media today, “the door is obviously still open” on re-signing Gudas and Trouba. He said they will figure things out by July 1st or else they will hit the free agency market.

McTavish will be reunited with Cam Fowler, but also with Greg Cronin in St. Louis. Thoughts and prayers to McTavish. On an emotional level this is a difficult pill to swallow.

Related Articles:

Zellweger Traded To Buffalo

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June 26th, 2026