The St. Louis Blues may be one aggressive draft-night decision away from landing Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, but the price has apparently climbed to one of the most valuable assets in their organization: the 11th overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic linked the Blues to trade discussions with Anaheim, and more recent reporting has identified St. Louis and the New York Rangers as two of the strongest contenders for McTavish. While an earlier version of the rumor suggested the Blues had offered the No. 15 pick, the latest update indicates that No. 11 is the centerpiece of St. Louis’ offer.
That changes the conversation considerably.
McTavish would give the Blues another young, established NHL center and prevent the organization from placing too much immediate pressure on Dalibor Dvorsky. A future middle featuring Robert Thomas, McTavish and Dvorsky would give St. Louis enviable depth, but surrendering a top-11 selection requires confidence that McTavish can become more than a dependable middle-six forward.
Mason McTavish Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 304 | 77 | 104 | 181 | -54 |
| Playoffs | 10 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
Why Mason McTavish Fits the St. Louis Blues’ Centre Plan
McTavish is only 23 years old, plays a premium position and is under contract through the 2030-31 season at a $7 million annual cap hit. Those factors make him far more valuable than a typical player appearing in offseason trade rumors.
The production, however, requires context.
McTavish finished the 2025-26 season with 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points in 75 games. That represented a decline from the 52 points he produced the previous season, but his underlying numbers were more encouraging than the basic totals. He finished with a 51 percent expected-goals share and a 53 percent shot-attempt share at five-on-five.
Those numbers suggest McTavish was still helping Anaheim control play, even when the individual scoring results were disappointing.
From my perspective, this is exactly the type of player St. Louis should be targeting. The Blues are not simply looking for a short-term second-line center. They need players whose age and contractual control fit alongside Dvorsky, Jimmy Snuggerud, Dylan Holloway and the rest of their developing core.
McTavish checks those boxes.
The recent acquisition of Connor McMichael does not necessarily eliminate the need for another center. McMichael can play both center and wing, while Dvorsky should be allowed to earn a larger role instead of being handed one before he is ready. Adding McTavish would give the Blues several lineup combinations and significantly reduce their dependence on one young player developing according to a perfect timeline.
Is Mason McTavish Worth the 11th Overall Pick?
Here is my editorial trade-value assessment:
| Trade-value factor | McTavish assessment |
|---|---|
| Age and position | High value |
| Contract control | High value |
| Recent production | Moderate value |
| Long-term upside | High value |
| Acquisition risk | Moderate |
| Overall verdict | Worth a premium first-round pick, but not a major prospect on top |
The difference between No. 11 and No. 15 may appear small, but it could be significant to Anaheim. The Ducks could use the higher selection themselves or redirect it in another trade for a player who better fits general manager Pat Verbeek’s plans.
For St. Louis, my limit would be the 11th pick without an additional premium asset.
I would not include Dvorsky, Snuggerud or another blue-chip prospect alongside No. 11. McTavish is a strong young NHL player, but his 41-point season means the Blues would still be betting on future development. Paying twice, once with the top pick and again with an elite prospect would create too much risk.
A deal involving No. 15 would be an easy decision for the Blues. A deal involving No. 11 is more complicated, but it is still defensible because draft picks remain projections. McTavish has already played more than 300 NHL games and has produced 181 career points.
The Blues know what type of player they would be acquiring. The question is how much more offence remains to be unlocked.
Mason McTavish’s Contract Works for St. Louis
Based on current public salary-cap projections, St. Louis has approximately $22.9 million in space for 2026-27. Adding McTavish’s $7 million cap hit without moving another contract would leave roughly $15.9 million.
That is not a complete offseason projection because the Blues still have roster spots and potential signings to address, but it demonstrates that salary-cap space should not prevent this trade.
The bigger consideration is opportunity cost. Acquiring McTavish would consume a significant portion of St. Louis’ flexibility and likely prevent the Blues from using the No. 11 pick in another blockbuster.
Still, young centers with size, NHL experience and five remaining years of contractual control rarely become available. When they do, teams generally have to pay more than feels comfortable.
My final assessment is that McTavish would be a smart addition for the St. Louis Blues at No. 11 overall, provided the Blues are not required to include another major young asset. It would be an aggressive move, but one that fits the organization’s competitive timeline much better than a short-term veteran acquisition.
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