The Anaheim Ducks completed a significant trade on Friday, sending 23-year-old center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the No. 15 and No. 29 selections in the NHL draft. Anaheim immediately flipped the 15th pick, selecting Saginaw Spirit winger Nikita Klepov, then packaged the 29th and 117th picks to Vegas for the No. 28 selection used on Marcus Nordmark.

McTavish's departure follows a postseason where his ice time dropped to just 12:25 per game despite recording six points in ten playoff contests. The writing appeared on the wall after younger teammates like Leo Carlsson and Lukas Dostal assumed larger roles during the Ducks' second-round exit to the Golden Knights. McTavish managed his first 20-goal campaign in 2024-25, posting 52 points in 76 games while averaging 16:52 of ice time.

The trade gives Anaheim $44.623 million in salary cap space, providing flexibility to re-sign restricted free agents Carlsson, Gauthier, and Mintyukov while addressing defensive needs. Three Ducks defensemen are pending unrestricted free agents, making this rebuild opportunity particularly timely.

St. Louis acquires a versatile forward who brings immediate top-six potential at center or wing. McTavish's declining ice time in Anaheim suggests the Blues are betting on a fresh opportunity revitalizing his production after back-to-back seasons of 40-plus points.