While most of the hockey world was focusing on last night’s Game 5 and the ensuing Cup-clinching victory by the Tampa Bay Lightning, there was one large story brewing in St. Louis. The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford was reporting that Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko had requested a trade from the club earlier in the offseason. While Tarasenko trade rumors were nothing new this offseason, the declaration of a trade request definitely put the writing on the wall for his tenure in Missouri.
With more clarity coming today on the Tarasenko situation, he’s reportedly frustrated on how the Blues organization has handled his shoulder surgeries and the corresponding recoveries. While Rutherford’s reporting claims that Tarasenko now comes with a clean bill of health, the uncertainty surrounding his post-injury ceiling has got to be a bit of a red flag for teams interested.
Speaking of teams interested, Rutherford notes that both the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, as well as the Edmonton Oilers are all teams who are potential suitors.
The Oilers seem like the most natural fit. After all, their struggles to find legitimate linemates for Connor McDavid in the past have been well-documented. With the Oilers getting some cap space to work with this offseason, they’ve been active in most trade rumors. Tarasenko’s no different. If the Oilers can swing a deal, it would likely consist of a defense prospect as well as a relatively high draft pick, as well as a roster player. Tarasenko would inevitably play on McDavid’s right wing, likely with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or potentially Jesse Puljujarvi on his off-wing flanking them on the left.
The Islanders also stand as a natural fit for the Russian winger, as the team has lacked scoring punch in recent seasons to push them over the top. However, salary is a concern for the cap-strapped Islanders, who also have Adam Pelech and Anthony Beauvillier to sign to contracts this offseason. The Rangers also are an interesting idea, considering Tarasenko would get the opportunity to play with countryman Artemi Panarin.
So, PHR readers, we ask you – where do you think Vladimir Tarasenko ends up after all of this? Vote below!
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NYR for picks, maybe Kakko
No shot they trade Kakko for him hahaha
Lol Kakko more like deangelo and a 7th
My money is on Calgary. Tkachuk, Backlund pick and maybe a bad contract like Lucic for Tarasenko and a player like Thomas.
The Blues can’t afford that deal as is and I can’t imagine they trade Thomas but I like where your heads at.
Don’t see Tarasenko waiving his no trade to go to Calgary. It has been reported that Tarasenko wants to go to a contender & I doubt that he views Calgary as a contender. Also, if I’m Calgary, I’m not trading Tkachuk for Tarasenko at this point in their careers. It is hard to have faith that Tarasenko will stay healthy and be the same player he was before his shoulder surgeries.
so calgary gives up a player thats better it Matty and a legit shut down C that can be a 2nd liner for a guy whos shoulder is legit gone? Ya sure get out of Lucic but flames arent giving up their future captain
Ive wondered if a 3 team Buff, STL and a 3rd team. STL gets Jack 3rd team gets Vladdy and Buff gets prospects from both, Just an idea but i think it makes sense.
Calgary and STL make the most sense in a traditional trade were ita Vladdy plus for Thachuk, or STL takes Lucic like the other post says
I wouldn’t be surprised if Nashville got in on this, they’re looking for a shake up and with Arvidsson out the door they could use some legit scorers, something Johanson and Duchene failed to do this year
I doubt Poile would take that risk on a player with Tarasenko’s recent injury history.
Dushane would have to go the other way in that i woild think and im not sure stl does that
smart money takes the field here
la kings
Yup
Kings send Athanasiou, Maata and a conditional 4th rounder that could be a 2nd based on games played.
I’d love it to be the Flames with Tkachuk coming back. I think he’s going to New Jersey though. I don’t think the Blues are getting much in return. He wants to go to a competitor but there’s not many good teams with the cap space to risk on Tarasenko. The Devil’s GM said they’re ready to spend to the cap. If the Blues can get as many draft picks as possible, the salary relief will be big plus. The Oilers make sense, but the only way that would work would be for Kassian to be part of the return, which I think he would be a great fit for the Blues. The potential downside would be the Kassian and Tkachuk don’t like each other and Tkachuk will be a Blue eventually.
Tarasenko has a no-trade clause. There’s no way he waives it to go to New Jersey. He wants to go to a contender & New Jersey is still a few years away from being a contender. Tarasenko’s contract will be up before the Devils are back to being contenders
“dont think blues are getting much in return” but want Tkachuk. You’d probably looking at Tarasenko and multiple high picks and or prospects to get that done
I’m not so sure I’d trade Tkachuk for Tarasenko straight up even if Tarasenko was healthy. There’s a six year age difference, quality left wingers are harder to find than right wingers, Tkachuk has sandpaper in his game that Tarasenko doesn’t, and Calgary’s in a bit of cap hell themselves: they’ve got $67 million tied up in just 13 contracts.
LA would be my pick. . . especially cuz his deal only has 2 years left on it, so he can help them (hopefully) be competitive now and they can evaluate and possibly move on from him when some of the prospects are ready for a roster spot. I think this could potentially squash any deal between Buffalo and LA> sure, Eichel would definitely be higher reward, but Tarasenko will cost the team far less assets and comes with minimal risk.
Caps need him…trade kuzy and Dillon for Vlad and Dunn
If Washington loses Oshie to Seattle in the Expansion draft they might just pull the trigger on making this move if they can move a little bit of money out
Habs.
Aging winger coming off a serious injury with a big cap hit who is unhappy on a recent championship team.
Yeah, no thanks. Let someone else roll those dice.
He’s unhappy because of the team’s medical decisions. Plus I’m sure Berube is a nightmare for a skill player. Habs stuck with Staal throughout the finals despite his glaring incompetence, so clearly Bergy values “experience.” At least Tank brings skill. No one says they’ve got to re-sign him but he’s got 4-5 solid years left, and the Habs need the goals.
i’m gonna throw my 2 cents i, if tarasenko doesn’t wanna play in stl then he needs to open up more teams he is willing to go to. even with multiple shoulder surgeries he is
a dynamic player and he isn’t going r
to be traded just to be traded. on the flip side of that coin is if he wants s gonna whine and be a cancer just get what you can. no team needs a player that doesn’t wanna be there and brings the whole locker room down because of his negative attitude. if he really wants out of stl he is going to open up his list or he is going to be a blue in 21/22 because he is not getting traded just to be traded and he is unhappy.
Caps for kunetzov
Would love Jersey to take a chance on him. Yeah the report did somewhat say he wants to go to a contender but not many of them can take on vladys 9.5 mil cap hit. I think after two years of playing the NJ kids, fitzy will start getting some legit pieces to help both nico and Jack . They won’t go past 35-40 points without the correct line mates .maybe he can work that ray shero magic .
St. Louis will be lucky to get a vending machine back in return.
The kings have the best shot getting vladimir tarasenko
I could see the Blue Jackets taking a shot at him. They’ve got a desperate need for a competent top 6 center and they should have plenty of cap room. Not sure if he has a way of blocking a trade to certain teams.
At this point, though, how much leeway for gambles does Kekalainen have left? He takes a swing and trades stuff for Tarasenko, if Tarasenko starts the season on the DL, Jarmo’s on the unemployment line before October’s out.
Dushane would have to go the other way in that i woild think and im not sure stl does that