Mason McTavish aims to reset his game with the Blues

Mason McTavish is starting over in the Midwest after the Anaheim Ducks moved him to the St. Louis Blues in a significant draft‑day deal. The 23‑year‑old centre arrives in a demanding Central Division looking to re‑establish himself as a key offensive and physical presence after a frustrating year in Orange County.

From breakthrough year to bumpy follow‑up

Drafted third overall by Anaheim in 2021, McTavish broke into the NHL quickly and grew alongside an emerging Ducks core that includes Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Jackson LaCombe. His most productive season so far came in 2024-25, when he set career highs in goals and points over 76 games while solidifying his spot in the lineup.

The momentum stalled the following summer. As a restricted free agent, McTavish became entangled in prolonged contract talks with general manager Pat Verbeek and ended up missing part of training camp. Under new coach Joel Quenneville, the Ducks took off in the standings, but McTavish struggled to match the team’s rise, even finding himself a healthy scratch on occasion.

He managed to salvage some confidence late in the season and contributed six points in 10 playoff games as Anaheim upset Edmonton, then bowed out to Vegas in the second round. Even with that late surge, the Ducks chose to cash in on his value at the draft, acquiring two first‑round picks from St. Louis and turning them into Nikita Klepov at No. 15 and, after a trade with Vegas, Marcus Nordmark at No. 28.

Steen sees mindset fit with Blues’ evolving core

For St. Louis, McTavish is a central piece of a roster evolution that has unfolded since the club’s 2019 Stanley Cup win without a full tear‑down. New general manager Alexander Steen has already reshaped the forward group by sending Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals for a package highlighted by 25‑year‑old Connor McMichael.

Steen has emphasized that McTavish brings not only skill but also heft and a competitive edge, praising his willingness to lean into tough situations and keep pushing. The GM describes him as resilient and highly committed, traits the organization wants as pillars of its identity as it transitions from an older core to a group led by players in their early and mid‑20s.

Change is not unfamiliar territory for McTavish. When the 2020‑21 OHL season was cancelled, he chose to play in Switzerland with EHC Olten, facing men and producing strong numbers in a brief stint. Born in Zurich and raised there until age eight while his father, Dale, played in the Swiss National League, he has already shown he can thrive far from his comfort zone. Looking back on Anaheim, he says it was a great chapter but that it was the right moment to move on, stressing how excited he is to meet new teammates and settle into St. Louis.

New faces, old expectations in the Central Division

McTavish joins a cluster of Blues skaters at similar stages of their careers, including McMichael, which Steen hopes will speed up chemistry and fuel internal competition. The club has also added veteran winger Ross Johnston and defenceman Brandon Carlo to bolster toughness and depth, while a hungry group in AHL Springfield continues to push for NHL jobs.

The Blues remain in a Central Division that has recently been headlined by the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, leaving little margin for error in the playoff race. St. Louis has surprised the league before, most notably during its 2019 run from the bottom of the standings to a championship. The organization is betting that a renewed, team‑first identity — and a reset from McTavish — can help spark another climb up the ladder.