St. Louis Blues Trade Aggressively in Wild Draft Week

The St. Louis Blues had a busy draft week, with General Manager Doug Armstrong making several key moves before stepping down.

What happened in the draft?

The Blues traded Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals for Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and pick No. 16 in the draft.

The team then acquired Mason McTavish from the Ducks in exchange for picks No. 15 and 29 in the first round.

Why the trades matter for St. Louis Blues

The Blues are clearly not rebuilding, with Armstrong's moves signaling a commitment to competing now.

As of the end of the season, the Blues stood 9th in the Western Conference with a 37-33 record and on a W4 streak.

What comes next for the Blues?

The addition of McTavish gives the Blues a potential star player, but he needs to work on his defensive game.

McMichael, a pending restricted free agent, could play left wing for the Blues.

The Blues have a solid prospect pool, but the addition of McTavish brings much-needed star power.

And with the draft complete, the Blues will look to integrate their new players into the lineup.

But the team still has work to do to address its defensive issues.

So the Blues will need to be active in free agency to fill out their roster.

The Blues' aggressive approach in the draft shows they are committed to winning now.

With McTavish on board, the Blues have a player who can hit and put up points in bunches.

The team will need to work with him to improve his 200-foot game.