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Rangers acquire Vladimir Tarasenko from Blues
February 9, 2023, 6:45 PM ET [373 Comments]
Jan Levine
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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.







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.









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.

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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.



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.

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