December 14 marked the 18th anniversary of an important moment in the history of the St. Louis Blues. On that day in 2007, forward was Doug Weight traded to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Andy McDonald. The deal turned out to be a one-sided transaction, with the Blues emerging as the clear winner.
Reason for the Doug weight trade
At the time, the Ducks were enjoying success, capturing their first and only Stanley Cup championship, while the Blues were well out of the playoff picture. However, Anaheim was tight against the salary cap. With several players needing new salaries, they agreed to trade McDonald for weight.
Weight in Anaheim
The trade was not popular in Anaheim. In fact, many still consider it one of the worst trades in franchise history. McDonald was coming off two seasons of 85 and 78 points. Despite injury issues earlier in his career, the Ontario native was comfortable in the NHL.
Financially, though, the trade made sense, and it probably would have been more positive if Weight had worked out, even if he wasn’t the 100+ point player he once was. But Weight managed just 14 points in 38 regular-season games. In the play-offs he recorded only one point in five games. He then signed with the New York Islanders (where he would eventually become head coach) in the offseason.
There’s no sugar coating it. The trade didn’t work for the Ducks, but the opposite happened for the Blues.
McDonald in St. Louis: The Early Years
McDonald recorded 36 points in 49 games with the Blues to end the 2007–08 season. In addition to players like Keith Tkachuk, Brad Boyes and Paul Kariya, the team had an offensive core that would compete in the coming seasons.
In his second season with the club, McDonald signed a four-year extension. The same season, despite missing games due to a broken leg, McDonald helped the Blues reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2003–04.
Blues were a mature team
The Blues’ 2009 Playoff run ended after a first-round sweep of the Vancouver Canucks, and they missed the postseason in the next two campaigns. To his credit, McDonald did his bit, scoring 44 goals in those two seasons. He also served as a leader in the locker room as an alternate captain.
McDonald’s leadership helped young players on the team, such as TJ Oshie, David Backes and Alex Pietrangelo, adapt to the responsibilities of the NHL and adopt a more competitive mindset. As the only player on the roster to have won a Stanley Cup, McDonald was the veteran they looked to.
Oshie, Backes and Pietrangelo became key members of a team that became regular contenders in the 2010s. Backes became captain of the Blues in 2011-2012, and Pietrangelo replaced him in 2016, after Backes’ departure. Pietrangelo became the first Blues captain to win the Stanley Cup in 2019.
McDonald’s playing style matched the team’s needs
McDonald played a key role in helping the team return to the playoffs and become future contenders. He was structured, responsible and challenging to play against. He could also play in all situations, giving his coaches flexibility with lineups.
Blues became a contender again
In 2011-2012 the Blues were again regular contenders for the play-offs. They finished second in the Western Conference and won the Central Division.
Related: St. Louis Blues All-Decade Team
McDonald played only 25 games in the regular season due to injury, but he still impressed, especially in the first round of the playoffs against the San Jose Sharks. In the five-game series, McDonald scored four goals, including the winning goal in Game 4, to help the team win their first playoff series since 2002.
McDonald Trade wins for the Blues
McDonald retired after the 2012–13 season due to concussion issues. In six seasons with the Blues, he scored 90 goals and 230 points, helping the team reach the playoffs twice.
The 2007 trade was intended to help the Ducks retain key players with freed up cap space, keeping their championship window open. As it turns out, the trade helped open the Blues’ championship window. It has been eighteen years since this deal, and while McDonald may not be as well known as players like Brett Hull, Vladimir Tarasenko and Pietrangelo, acquiring him had a major impact on the team that endured for years.
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