Ducks stockpile picks for blue-line overhaul; Stars weigh Robertson trade risks

Anaheim sent Mason McTavish to St. Louis for the 15th and 29th overall picks on June 27 after reaching the second round of the playoffs.

Ducks accelerate right-side defense rebuild

The Ducks completed a second straight playoff appearance before dealing McTavish, a 24-year-old center who posted 52 points in 2025-26. They also moved Olen Zellweger to Buffalo, freeing additional cap space and draft capital.

Johnston noted the club pursued multiple players who ultimately landed elsewhere yet retained an acquisitive posture rather than a seller’s stance. With the new first- and second-round selections in hand, Anaheim holds leverage to target established right-shot options.

Jacob Trouba becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Ducks have maintained contact with his representation while monitoring the market for alternatives such as Radko Gudas, whose contract status remains unresolved.

Losing John Carlson’s rights compounds the right-side vacancy. Anaheim plans to combine the fresh draft picks with trade assets to accelerate the fix before training camp.

Stars test market appetite for Robertson

Dallas agreed to a framework that would have sent Jason Robertson to Seattle in exchange for an 18-year, $15 million AAV offer the forward rejected. The 27-year-old retains one year of team control, forcing any suitor to absorb the risk of an unsigned extension.

Elliotte Friedman reported that the Stars continue to explore trades despite the failed Seattle arrangement. Prospective buyers must weigh the immediate production against the possibility that Robertson tests free agency in 2027 at a comparable or higher figure.

The situation leaves Dallas with a compressed timeline. A deal before July 1 would allow the acquiring club to negotiate an extension immediately, yet the 18-year term rejected by Robertson sets a high bar for any new contract.

Offseason timeline pressures both clubs

Anaheim’s newly acquired capital aligns with a July 1 free-agent window where multiple right-shot defensemen could become available. The Ducks have signaled they will supplement draft selections with additional trades to close the defensive gap.

Dallas must decide whether to absorb a rental year or insist on an extension clause in any Robertson package. The 15 million AAV benchmark established in the Seattle offer now serves as the baseline for all discussions.

Both clubs enter the final week of June with clear but divergent objectives that will shape their 2026-27 rosters.