Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael Have Gone Cold Since Hot Starts To Blues Career

The St. Louis Blues made several off-season moves, but their two biggest roster adjustments came with the acquisitions of Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael.

McTavish cost the Blues two 2026 first-round picks, while McMichael was part of the package the Blues received when they traded Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals.

Through the first six games of the season, McMichael looked worth the cost to acquire him and the six-year, $6.75 million AAV it took to retain him. McMichael had scored two goals and four assists, but since then, he's notched just two assists in nine games. 

As for McTavish, the first 10 games of the season were everything the Blues could have hoped for: he notched six goals and 10 points, but since then he's been held off the scoresheet.

This recent cold stretch is not what the Blues were hoping for. And when you factor in the cost to acquire them, it feels even worse.

Kyrou has scored five goals and 14 points in 14 games for the Capitals, tied for the team lead in points and third in goals. The Anaheim Ducks used the 15th overall pick they received for McTavish to select Nikita Klepov. He looked outstanding in pre-season and earned a roster spot. He played just four games before being reassigned to the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL, but he is more developed than most realized. 

It's not all bad for McTavish and McMichael. Their line with Jonatan Berggren has been solid; according to moneypuck.com, it has controlled 53.4 percent of the expected goals. 

Individually, McTavish ranks ninth on the team in Corsi For percentage (50.28 percent) and sixth in expected goals percentage (52.90 percent) at 5-on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com. McMichael ranks second in Corsi For percentage (54.55 percent) and second in expected goals percentage (57.02 percent). 

The hope is that McTavish and McMichael's play remains strong and that the puck starts finding the back of the net more frequently.

The first change coach Jim Montgomery is making is swapping Berggren for Aleksanteri Kaskimaki. Berggren will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season, and Kaskimaki will dress in his seventh contest. So, the 22-year-old Finnish forward has posted a goal and an assist, while Berggren has recorded two goals and five points in 15 games. 

The Blues take on the New Jersey Devils tonight, who own an abundance of depth up front and a top-end shot-stopper in Connor Hellebuyck. The Devils have won six of their last seven games, and if the Blues want to win tonight, they'll need McTavish and McMichael's offense. 

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