The Anaheim Ducks made a blockbuster trade during Friday night’s NHL Draft.

When the St. Louis Blues were set to take the podium at the draft, it was announced that they were trading the 15th and 29th picks to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Mason McTavish.

The Ducks went ahead and took Nikita Klepov at No. 15.

McTavish, 23, was taken as a center by the Ducks with the third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

The departure of McTavish from the Ducks comes a year after the team signed him to a six-year, $42 million contract extension that he signed with the team last summer.

Fresh off his extension, it appeared that the Ducks would consist of a core made up of McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier for years to come. But after a season in which McTavish regressed, it became more apparent that the Ducks and McTavish would soon part ways from one another.

After tallying 52 points, 22 goals, and 30 assists during the 2022-2025 season, McTavish got off to a hot start at the beginning of the year, putting together 11 points in his first 15 games, but after that, he faded away, finishing the season with 41 points, 17 goals, and 24 assists.

McTavish’s departure from the Ducks comes after he lost the second-line center spot to Mikael Granlund and was moved over to left wing, so the Ducks’ third and fourth lines could finish with Ryan Poehlin and rookie Tim Washe.

The writing on the wall for McTavish’s future with the Ducks became more apparent as last season went on, being scratched multiple times during the regular season and sitting out twice during the Ducks’ second-round playoff matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Klepov is considered a high-ceiling offensive forward who will play at Michigan State next season. In his first OHL season, he won the league’s scoring title after compiling 37 goals and 60 assists in 67 games.