The Rangers, righting a 2010 major draft mistake, have acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the Blues. In 2010, New York - looking for roughness - selected Dylan McIlrath, passing on Tarasenko who then went 16th to St Louis. With this move, the Rangers have substantially bolstered the top-nine, especially on the right side. in addition, New York acquired Niko Mikkola, who should immediately slide in the sixth d-men, moving Ben Harpur to the press box following the long-overdue decision to place Libor Hajek on waivers.

Hearing #stlblues are trading Vladimir Tarasenko to #NYR.@DailyFaceoff

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 9, 2023

I can confirm Tarasenko has been traded to the New York Rangers, per a league source. #stlblues

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) February 9, 2023

VLADI'S FUTURE: NEW YORK, BABY. 🗽

It's been waiting for you. pic.twitter.com/a9fBQJQW5R

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 9, 2023

My guess was with St. Louis eating salary, one of the two first rounders New York has, presuming Dallas makes the playoffs, will be part of the deal. To offset some salary, Sammy Blais could end up heading back to the Blues. I expect a prospect or two to also be included in the transaction.

As for the draft pick conditions:

- STL will get the later of the #NYR's two 1st-round picks between theirs and Dallas (NYR owns rights to both). If DAL pick ends up in top 10, STL gets NYR's 2024 first-rounder instead.

- 2024 4th-round pick becomes 3rd if NYR makes playoffs.

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) February 9, 2023

Trade details

To Rangers:
RW Vladimir Tarasenko
D Niko Mikkola

To Blues:
RW Sammy Blais
D Hunter Skinner
2023 1st round pick
2024 4th round pick

Blues retain 50% of Tarasenko’s contract

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) February 9, 2023

1st and 4th and prospects involved going to Blues. https://t.co/wTR37mIaa3

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 9, 2023

**Breaking News** 🚨📰
Credit @frank_seravalli who was on on it first. I can confirm deal as follows ; @NYRangers acquire F Tarasenko from the @StLouisBlues for Blais, Skinner and Draft Picks. @espn @NHL @NHLNetwork @TSNHockey @DKSportsbook #HockeyTwitter. pic.twitter.com/bSlFG9pBeD

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) February 9, 2023

Tarasenko should immediately slot onto the first line opposite Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. This allows Jimmy Vesey to move for now to the third line with Barclay Goodrow slotted in as the fourth line center. New York could leave Goodrow where is in and play Vesey on the fourth line, but that still leaves a gaping hole as the 4C.

Advanced metrics:

Tarasenko has taken an offensive step back from last year's renaissance, but he should still be a terrific scorer for the Rangers. Love the potential fit with Artemi Panarin 🥵 pic.twitter.com/9w03DZAZl5

— dom 🕰️ (@domluszczyszyn) February 9, 2023

Niko Mikkola hasn't been great with the Blues, but I'm curious to see how he does outside of St. Louis and in a new system. pic.twitter.com/036BNcOKUd

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 9, 2023

Vladimir Tarasenko, traded to NYR, is a top six sniper. Still very dangerous off the rush in particular. His production at 5v5 has fallen off this season after a big jump last year, but he's still a good chance creator. #NYR pic.twitter.com/O7uqO69whh

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 9, 2023

Tarasenko microstats this season courtesy of AllThreeZones: pic.twitter.com/BLeNRcWjSW

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 9, 2023

Here is yesterday's column where Jeremy Rutherford, who covers the Blues, and Arthur Staple, who covers the Rangers for the athletic, proposed trades for Tarasenko. This deal takes New York out of the Timo Meier sweepstakes, increasing the possibility he ends up in New Jersey or Carolina. But New York gets their first line right winger, hopefully with 50% of his $7.5 million salary eaten, and can augment with a third-pair left-handed defenseman and fourth line center or winger.

Are the Rangers and Vladimir Tarasenko a trade match?

Teaming up with ⁦@StapeAthletic⁩, we break down the fit, asset cost and other factors. #stlblues https://t.co/rniJUZgbBe

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) February 8, 2023

Cap implications with St. Louis eating 50% on Tarasenko, so $3.5 million prorated added, along with the prorated amount remaining for the $1.9 mil for Mikkola. New York is actually already down to 23 players with Will Cuylle sent down and Libor Hajek placed on waivers. If they stay with this roster, New York will have enough to room to make another deadline deal to add a fourth-line player, maybe Tyler Motte or Sam Lafferty.

Updated:

Cap update: Once Libor Hajek is either claimed or clears waivers, the #NYR will be left with a 22-man roster and a little over $1M in available cap space.

That number can grow to around $1.6M by the March 3 deadline, so the Rangers have enough room for another tweak.

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) February 9, 2023

The #NYR assigned Will Cuylle to AHL. If Hajek clears waivers, they can flip him for Cuylle tomorrow.

After trade & Cuylle down, #NYR have $94K of Projected Cap Space w/ 23 players. This can fit $273K in annual cap hit today or $416K at deadlinehttps://t.co/v7581nEO1L

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) February 9, 2023

Original:

The #NYR acquired Tarasenko ($7.5M-UFA) & Mikkola ($1.9M-UFA) from #stlblues for Sammy Blais ($1.525M-UFA) Hunter Skinner (Yr 2/3 851K) '23 1st (later of NYR/DAL) & '24 3rd (4th if miss playoffs)#NYR add $4.125M annual cap hit, $1.43M remaining this yrhttps://t.co/RlZv1tTJxw

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) February 9, 2023

After the trade, #NYR are over the cap by $192K with 24 players on active roster. They can be cap compliant by sending any player down prior to 5pm Eastern.https://t.co/00zTCjeQPm https://t.co/iSyDHfWDcI pic.twitter.com/V2USzI6DM5

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) February 9, 2023

More to come...

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