The St. Louis Blues have spent the last few seasons watching their power play slide in the wrong direction, and the drop-off has been hard to miss. What was a 27% conversion rate in 2021-22 has fallen all the way to 17.59% last season, leaving the unit badly in need of a jolt.
That’s why the recent acquisition of Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks feels like such a significant move. The idea is simple: add a player who can help clean up the mess around the crease and give the Blues another legitimate threat once they set up in the offensive zone.
McTavish already showed he can do damage with the man advantage. Six of his 17 goals last season came on the power play, and he worked that aggressive slot role for Anaheim.
That kind of presence could fit neatly into what St. Louis is trying to build.
There’s already some encouraging groundwork in place. Jimmy Snuggerud and Dalibor Dvorsky each scored five power-play goals last season, and both showed the kind of shooting touch that can stretch penalty kills from either face-off dot. Pair that kind of finishing with McTavish around the net, and the Blues suddenly have multiple ways to attack.
Philip Broberg could also grow into the quarterback role on the top unit, with Snuggerud and Dvorsky working the wings. Put McTavish in front of the net with Robert Thomas, and the first group starts to look dangerous.
The hope is that McTavish brings the same edge and energy he showed with the Ducks. If he does, he could end up being exactly the missing piece the Blues have been searching for on the power play in 2026-27.
In Other News...
Brandon Carlo Trade Puts Blues Youth Plan Under Real Pressure
The Blues latest move on defense says plenty about where they think they are in the roster-building cycle. By bringing in Brandon Carlo, St. Louis added a veteran with the kind of experience that can steady a blue line still trying to sort out its next wave of contributors, including Logan Mailloux and Theo Lindstein. After running into problems before when younger defensemen were asked to handle too much too soon, the club is clearly trying to give its prospects a better runway this time.
Carlo is expected to bring more than just minutes. The idea is for him to absorb the tougher shifts and help ease the burden on those young defenders as they grow into larger roles, something the Blues will need even more with Justin Faulk no longer in the mix. Whether that plan works will go a long way toward determining how quickly St. Louis can turn promising talent into a dependable defensive group, and it puts real weight on how well the new structure holds up once the seasons demands start piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Blues May Need To Act Fast With Jimmy Snuggerud
With Alex Steen stepping in as general manager and Doug Armstrong shifting into the president of hockey operations role, the Blues are clearly entering a new phase while still trying to build on a busy offseason. The additions of Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael gave the roster a different look, but Jimmy Snuggerud may be the name that matters most in the long run. The promising winger is expected to see a bigger role this season, and he has already become a player the organization appears eager to keep around.
That urgency is part of what makes his situation worth watching now, because discussions about a possible extension are already underway. St. Louis has spent the summer reshaping its forward group, but Snuggeruds development could end up carrying real salary-cap implications before long. If the Blues believe he is ready to take another step, they may want to settle his future before his value climbs even further. [Read more 🡒]