E151: The Blues make 3 trades - What does their lineup look like?

Well, let's go ahead and dive into the Mason McTavish trade.

He was part of th- th- this acquisition was part of a, a big draft night where the, the Blues went, you know, oops, all centers on us and selected, uh, Tynan Lawrence, then traded for McTavish, and then took Dagenais, who is listed as a center, might not be long-term.

So between, uh, these three and then the acquisition of Milton Gastron and Connor McMichael, the Blues really wanted to shore up their center depth, which as we discussed last episode, was a bit of a weakness for them.

So- I think McTavish is probably the flashiest name on that list, at least today.

He might not end up being the flashiest name on that list.

I'm looking at a, at a guy like Tannen Lawrence to maybe make that jump or something.

So, uh, but yeah, so, so the Blues ended up trading picks 15 and 29 to Anaheim in exchange for McTavish.

He's 23 years old.

Uh, you might remember he was the third overall pick in, in 2021, and he is entering year two of a six-year deal with a 7 million, uh, AAV that will take him through the 2030, '31 season.

Alec, some fans are pretty excited by this trade.

Some give the Blues an F and can't believe that they would ever do something as stupid as this.

Where do you fall on that spectrum with, uh, the McTavish trade?

Yeah.

[clears throat] I think that the, the McTavish trade, um, makes a lot of sense for the Blues with where they are in their timeline and, and, you know, what they're looking to acquire and everything.

Um, I think that McTavish as a player, um, that's where I understand some of the questions of does he fit the St. Louis Blues, uh, sort of system and style.

But what he can bring offensively, uh, you know, is something that's, that's undeniable about his skill.

Uh, and like you said, you know, this is still a, a 23-year-old skater.

Um, very, very young, very much growing into his NHL skill still.

Uh, so he'll be entering his age 24 season.

Uh, so he fits right n- in line with the timeline of players that the, the Blues are, are, uh, getting.

Uh, and he fits, you know, uh, sort of thinking about parts in, parts out for the Blues, like, like getting younger.

Uh, but he does so also at the center position, uh, where he plays an okay center.

Now, the defensive aspects of center, it, it seems, uh, you know, like defending a rush and, and whatnot, uh, is still where McTavish has work to do.

Um, but otherwise in terms of, of the player that he can be, you know, for St. Louis and, and as a center, um, he can fit, you know, all the other responsibilities.

He's not afraid to, uh, throw his body around.