McTavish trade talks signal potential Blues blockbuster

Darren Dreger reported that a near-completed deal would have sent Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko.

Blues nearly landed McTavish in multi-asset swap

Darren Dreger stated on the Morning Show with Starr & McKenna that a substantial package centered on McTavish moving to St. Louis came close to completion. The framework reportedly included Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko heading the other direction along with Anaheim prospect Pavel Mintyukov and draft pick Roger McQueen. That four-for-one structure would have given the Blues a young two-way center while stripping the Ducks of one of their most promising restricted free agents. The 39 million dollars in projected cap space the Ducks carry into the summer made such a subtraction attractive for long-term flexibility.

Pierre LeBrun noted on Melnick in the Afternoon that multiple teams have placed calls on McTavish, yet executives remain wary of the Ducks’ motives. The volume of inquiries has prompted questions inside opposing front offices about whether Anaheim views the 24-year-old as surplus or simply as leverage. LeBrun assessed the situation as one where McTavish carries a realistic chance of being moved before training camp.

The proposed Blues transaction would have contrasted sharply with Anaheim’s recent retention of young talent. McTavish posted 21 goals and 44 points in 2025-26, numbers that established him as a middle-six staple. Shipping him out for established veterans would have signaled a pivot toward immediate contention rather than continued rebuild.

Canadiens circle back as interested party

Marco D’Amico confirmed that the Montreal Canadiens have re-engaged the Ducks on McTavish following their own postseason exit. Kent Hughes publicly stated after the playoffs that he intended to contact all 31 other clubs to explore available players, and the McTavish dialogue fits that stated approach. The Canadiens’ interest remains conditional on any Anaheim decision to make the forward available.

Montreal’s cap situation differs markedly from Anaheim’s surplus. The Canadiens operate near the ceiling and would require salary retention or additional pieces to absorb McTavish’s next contract. Their willingness to monitor talks positions them as a secondary bidder should the Blues framework collapse.

D’Amico emphasized that the Ducks face larger roster decisions beyond McTavish. The team must still settle extensions for several restricted free agents and determine how to allocate its 38 million dollars in available space. That broader context explains the lack of urgency around any single player.

Ducks weigh cap math against asset return

Anaheim’s 38-to-39 million dollars in projected cap room gives general manager Pat Verbeek latitude to retain McTavish if offers fall short. The Ducks have no contractual obligation to trade him, yet the reported volume of calls suggests they are testing market value. A deal would likely need to exceed the Blues’ proposed return to justify moving a 24-year-old with term control.

The contrast between the Blues’ aggressive offer and Montreal’s more measured inquiry highlights two distinct buyer profiles. St. Louis sought an immediate top-six upgrade; Montreal seeks cost-controlled depth. Either path would accelerate Anaheim’s transition from rebuild to retool.

LeBrun’s assessment that teams are both intrigued and concerned captures the central tension. Any acquiring club must weigh McTavish’s production against the possibility that Anaheim is motivated by internal cap constraints rather than on-ice evaluation.

Unless the Ducks receive a package matching or exceeding the Thomas-Parayko framework by the end of June, McTavish will likely open the 2026-27 campaign in Anaheim.