- Mason McTavish says the Ducks trade left him with a chip on his shoulder in St. Louis
- Anaheim got the No. 15 and No. 29 picks in the 2026 draft for the former third overall selection
- Read below for his full comments and the skating work he put in all summer
Mason McTavish is not over the way things ended in Anaheim.
The new Blues center was asked at an informal skate in Maryland Heights whether getting traded gave him extra motivation heading into the season. He did not dance around it.
“Yeah, I think I have a chip on my shoulder, for sure. I’m not happy with the way things went in Anaheim. I mean I enjoyed my time there, it was awesome, guys were great, but at the same time, they traded me and that’s something I’m passionate about and want to get better. I’m looking forward to doing that here.”
That answer went to Lou Korac of The Hockey News at Centene Community Ice Center, where a handful of Blues have been skating ahead of camp.
Watch McTavish and two of his new teammates after that skate:
St. Louis got him on the opening night of the 2026 draft, sending Anaheim the No. 15 and No. 29 picks roughly a year after the Ducks handed him a six-year, $42 million contract.
Last season is what pushed Anaheim there. McTavish finished with 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 75 games, then sat as a healthy scratch at points during the playoff run.
Cam Fowler made the same trip out of Anaheim two seasons ago. Asked whether his new teammate would show up with something to prove, he did not hesitate.
“From the time that I’ve spent with MacT, I could see right away the potential that he had and the player that he’s capable of being. I would imagine that he’s coming in with a fresh mindset and a chip on his shoulder ready to prove what he’s capable of doing.”
Foot speed has been the knock. McTavish said he spent the summer back on power skating with Pat Malloy, his skills coach of 10 years, two or three times a week.
“That’s not the most fun thing to do, but it pays off a lot. I feel like it’s helped me tremendously this summer.”
Arriving in town on Aug. 23 was his own call, a head start on a room he barely knew. He slots in as the second-line center behind captain Robert Thomas, and he brings 77 goals and 104 assists from 304 career games.
Blues camp opens Thursday, Sept. 17:
McTavish gets his first real crack at answering the Ducks when those practices start.
