The St. Louis Blues traded forward Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers, Daily face-to-face hockey insider Frank Seravalli reported Thursday afternoon.
Tarasenko, 31, has 10 goals and 29 points in 38 games for the Blues this season. He is a pending UFA with a cap of $7.5 million; moreover, his contract has a full no-trade clause meaning he would have had to give it up to go to Rangers.
According to Seravalli, Rangers will also receive defender Niko Mikkola as part of the swap deal with the Blues. Mikkola, 26, has three assists averaging 16:39 in 50 games for the Blues this season and is a UFA pending with a cap of $1.9 million.
According Athleticismit’s Arthur Staple, the Blues will receive a 2023 first-round pick, a prospect and forward Sammy Blais in exchange for Tarasenko. Rangers originally acquired Blais from the Blues in 2021 as part of a swap deal for Pavel Buchnevich.
Blais previously played for the Blues from 2017-2021, winning the Stanley Cup as Tarasenko’s teammate in 2019. The 6’2″, 206-pound winger had five points (all assists) in 40 games with the Blues. Rangers this season.
A six-time 30-goal scorer and Stanley Cup champion with the Blues in 2019, Tarasenko leaves St. Louis with 262 goals and 553 points in 644 games. He reportedly asked for a trade away from the Blues in 2021.
More soon.
