Vladimir Tarasenko

The Rangers made a splash by acquiring one of the NHL trade deadline's biggest targets.

[NHL](/nhl/) season, has primarily played in a third-pairing role with the Blues. Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant could also try to form a lethal scoring line by putting Tarasenko on the opposite side of [Chris Kreider](/nhl/players/1966327/chris-kreider/) with [Vincent Trocheck](/nhl/players/1897806/vincent-trocheck/) in the middle. Louis Blues](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/STL/st-louis-blues/) have traded winger [Vladimir Tarasenko](/nhl/players/1778768/vladimir-tarasenko/) and defenseman [Niko Mikkola](/nhl/players/2879985/niko-mikkola/) to the [New York Rangers](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/NYR/new-york-rangers/), New York announced Wednesday.

The Blueshirts may have solved their right-wing dilemma with a notable trade, along with acquiring defenseman Niko Mikkola.

The 31-year-old will likely slot in on the top line with Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Once Hájek is either claimed or clears waivers, the Rangers will be left with a little over $1 million in available cap space. That's significantly down from last season's total of 82 points (34 goals and 48 assists), but the Rangers are banking on his track record − he has six season of 66 points or more − and a change of scenery providing a boost. If that happened, the Blues would receive the later of the Rangers' two 2024 first-rounders. The Rangers later confirmed that they'll be sending a conditional 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick, forward Sammy Blais and defenseman prospect Hunter Skinner to St. Vladimir Tarasenko is coming over in a trade with the St.

The Rangers are trading for St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko, per multiple reports, making a big splash well in advance of the NHL trade deadline.

The New York Rangers have been looking for a right-winger superstar that could pair nicely on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin.

](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKac0q22DKg)Tarasenko is owed over $7.5 million this season and is a free agent after the conclusion of the 2022-23 NHL season. [Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff,](https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1623752191088508928?s=20&t=GuPC1cD8fmQHWjBP-7TcKw) the New York Rangers have agreed on a trade for St. According to additional reports, the Rangers are sending Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner, a first-round pick in 2023, and a 2023 fourth-round pick over to the Blues.

The Rangers added a dynamic winger in Tarasenko who should be a great fit next to their other star forwards.

He’s getting a new opportunity in New York, likely on the third pair, and is an upgrade over both [Ben Harpur](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/ben-harpur-lbWlKvMsUQ3THqEQ/) and [Libor Hajek](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/libor-hajek-GQ6yqIrgyBYR2HOm/). Tarasenko for a late first on its face would have been rich but that the Rangers got a second useful player at a more premium position as well that the Blues retained salary in the trade tends to make it equal in terms of what the market at the deadline has historically been. Tarasenko had a great career with the Blues but given he’s having a down year, had some recent injury history and doesn’t play a premium position getting a first-round pick for the pending free agent is a positive for the Blues. While the Rangers were always rumored to add a winger, is it nevertheless interesting to observe an organization that has used three premium draft picks in the last five years on wingers in Kravtsov, Kaapo Kakko and Lafrenière felt it was important to add more talent on the wing. Two of the best playmakers in the game with a new running mate? [Mika Zibanejad](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/mika-zibanejad-QPbMrEAUZ1r9oWmY/) and Panarin and reap the benefits. Louis that only one prime asset is headed back, especially given a) the retention on Tarasenko, b) Mikkola’s own inherent value and c) taking back salary in the form of Blais, a pending UFA who they already traded once. [Robert Thomas](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/robert-thomas-bIwCsHyQvMOrpVua/) did last year, and [Artemi Panarin](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/artemi-panarin-zfBFZ3wm0mBRLAaP/) is likely to do now. The Rangers, who were in the [Patrick Kane](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/patrick-kane-0Z82bVOGMbWoqDWD/) conversation, were facing this same conversation had they opted for the [Blackhawks](https://theathletic.com/nhl/team/blackhawks/) winger — now they don’t have the same health concerns to worry about. [Timo Meier](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/timo-meier-6YnX1J6IGjn03wAZ/), but the cost of acquisition wasn’t nearly as much as it could have been. [Jimmy Vesey](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/jimmy-vesey-e2hKLn214EkR1jXy/) aren’t top-six right wingers on a contender. The right side of the lineup has been A Problem.

The teams announced the deal Thursday. The Rangers sent conditional 2023 first- and 2024 fourth-round picks, forward Sammy Blais and prospect Hunter Skinner to ...

Louis with the Blues on track to miss the playoffs for just the second time in 12 years. The Rangers sent conditional 2023 first- and 2024 fourth-round picks, forward Sammy Blais and prospect Hunter Skinner to the Blues for the prolific scoring winger, who’s set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season, and depth defenseman Niko Mikkola. The New York Rangers have acquired All-Star Vladimir Tarasenko from the St.

The New York Rangers turned heads Thursday afternoon with the acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola from the Blues for Sammy Blais, Hunter.

Drury made a big splash in last year’s trade deadline and was able to help New York get to the Eastern Conference Finals. Even with two major needs on the roster filled at the current moment, New York has over $1 million in cap space and plenty of room to potentially add to the depth of their fourth line. Drury also announced that both Tarasenko and Mikkola will be playing in Friday night’s contest against the Seattle Kraken. “We felt like acquiring a top-six scoring winger was something we needed.” “This was a piece that I really wanted in there and to have it in there now and not wait on it…He’s a really good shutdown defenseman,” [Mollie Walker of the New York Post](https://twitter.com/MollieeWalkerr/status/1623782673532477440?s=20&t=GuPC1cD8fmQHWjBP-7TcKw)“.

"Tarasenko's relationship with St. Louis had its ups and downs, but he should be celebrated as a top-five scorer in franchise history and Stanley Cup champ.".

The Rangers acquired the prolific scoring winger and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on Thursday for conditional 2023 first- and 2024 fourth- ...

Louis received will be the later of the Rangers' or Stars' — from the trade that sent defenseman Niks Lundkvist to Dallas — this year, unless the Stars' pick winds up in the top 10. Louis with the Blues on track to miss the playoffs for just the second time in 12 years. [Patrick Kane](https://apnews.com/hub/patrick-kane), the latter of whom still has not decided if he wants to be traded from the Blackhawks. Obviously New York’s a marquee city for all players in the league, so I was comfortable that when I called (his agent), I would have been surprised if that had have been an issue.” The first-round pick St. “Tough situation, for sure,” Berube told reporters after practice. Rookie forward Will Cuylle was also sent back to Hartford of the American Hockey League. “It’s something we’ve been looking at for a while,” Rangers general manager Chris Drury said on a video call with reporters. “I was hoping that that didn’t change. Louis retained half of Tarasenko's salary and $7.5 million cap hit, giving New York some flexibility to make more moves over the next three weeks. Any of those teams would be a good fit for 26-year-old San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier, who's under team control for at least next season at $10 million and could sign a long-term extension. Louis Blues on Thursday for conditional 2023 first- and 2024 fourth-round picks, forward Sammy Blais and prospect Hunter Skinner.

The NHL's March 3 trade deadline is three weeks away. Another big deal went down Thursday, when the St. Louis Blues moved Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York ...

Louis will receive the lower of those two picks — either way, likely to fall in the late first round of what’s said to be a talent-rich draft class. Even with that retention, the Rangers now sit with just $94,400 of projected cap space, per They went into the all-star break on a five-game losing streak and sit 11th in the Western Conference heading into Thursday’s games, nine points out of a wild-card spot. That puts the spotlight on a pair of other impending UFAs who were integral to the Stanley Cup run — captain and 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly, now 32, who has struggled with injuries this year and has been out of action with a broken foot, as well as 27-year-old utility forward Ivan Barbashev. He’s also an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. But his bargaining power is weaker than Chytil’s: he’s in the last year of his entry-level contract, making $925,000, and does not carry arbitration rights. Drafted by the Blues in the fifth round in 2015, he didn’t become a full-time NHL player until the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. The Rangers have five key young players headed for restricted free agency, four of whom have arbitration rights. This year, he had three assists in 50 games with the Blues, and is on an expiring contract that carries a cap hit of $1.9 million. In 644 career games with the Blues, Tarasenko put up 262 goals and 291 assists for 553 points. Louis during the summer of 2015, which carries a cap hit of $7.5 million per season. Louis Blues, Vladimir Tarasenko is on the move to the New York Rangers.

Not only did the Rangers fill their two biggest needs, but they didn't sacrifice any impact players with the Vladimir Tarasenko trade.

He hasn't been in (for) a little bit here, but he's been doing everything he can off ice and in practice to get back in there." Now the Rangers have that, with Mikkola ready to slot in next to 21-year-old Braden Schneider. Barclay Goodrow or Jimmy Vesey will likely play RW on that line, with who doesn't dropping down to what has been a little-used fourth line. The 26-year-old isn’t going to make many offensive plays and hasn’t produced great defensive metrics this season, but the entire Blues team has underperformed. He's had bouts with turnovers and inconsistency, with the hope is that his dynamic pass-first style will benefit from having a proven finisher on the opposite wing. The second was being in no position to offer Meier an extension given The first was not wanting to part with any members of the scorching-hot Kid Line − Alexis Lafrenière, Filip Chytil or Kaapo Kakko − or top forward prospect Brennan Othmann. "We're just trying to make the best deals we can," Drury said. That's enough room for one more minor move, with strong indications that Drury will look to add a bottom-six forward who brings speed, defense and an aggressive forechecking mentality. The Rangers were already trying to dump an ineffective Sammy Blais and his $1.525 million salary, which Drury was somehow able to include in this deal. It certainly gives the two new players a little more time to acclimate to our group. There's still a few weeks before the deadline, but we're excited to be able to do it now and get them in the lineup (Friday)."

New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola ...

In addition, Mikkola has added two assists/points in 16 playoff games with the Blues over two seasons. He ranks third on the team in hits with 96, third in blocked shots with 68 and has the second most shorthanded time on ice on the club (92:34) Last season, Tarasenko notched career-highs in assists (48) and points (82).

For portions of the season, Patrick Kane was the marquee name linked to the New York Rangers in their search to boost an offense that ranked around the ...

The four-time All-Star had spent his entire NHL career with St. Louis after being drafted 16th overall by the Blues in 2010.

On Thursday, the Blueshirts dealt Sammy Blais, prospect Hunter Skinner, a conditional first-round pick, and conditional fourth-round pick to the St. Louis Blues ...

That was his 11th goal in the last 13 games, he’s also on a five-game points streak (7G -1A). For his career against the Kraken, he’s 2-0-1 with a 1.97 GAA, and a .943 save percentage. The New York Rangers did not want to wait for Patrick Kane to make a decision on waiving his no-trade clause. Seattle is also without their leading scorer Andre Burakovsky, who suffered a lower-body injury on Tuesday. Mikkola, 26, has notched just 3 assists in 50 games, but at 6-4′ and 210 pounds it’s not points the Rangers are looking for. “It certainly gives the two new players a little more time to acclimate to our group. A lot of good reports on him. “As we as we pushed along on the deal, this was a piece that I really wanted in there and to have him in there now and not wait on it. Instead, the Rangers went with a player they’ve had interest in since last season. Louis also retained 50% of Tarasenko’s cap charge in order to make the deal work. Both players will be UFA’s in July. Louis Blues for Tarsenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola.

We are still a few weeks away from the NHL trade deadline, but the Rangers have already made one of the biggest splashes. The Rangers acquired Blues ...

The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Rangers play their first game following the trade deadline on Friday against the Kraken. Kraken will start at 7 p.m. - Time: 7 p.m. By trading for the forward now, the Rangers get roughly 11 more games out of Tarasenko than if they were to have gotten him on deadline day. [Blues All-Star winger Vladimir Tarasenko](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/vladimir-tarasenko-trade-details-rangers-blues/llf07t4qdu7kurpinsxv97hn) yesterday in the second big move made well in advance of the March 3 deadline.

Blues GM Doug Armstrong gets a head start on the trade deadline by sending Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola for Sammy Blais.

On the return side of the deal, look for Blais to be inserted into the lineup immediately as a bottom-six forward. We have the ability to give him that opportunity.” Armstrong has said on a couple of occasions earlier this season that the team’s play would determine his approach to the trade deadline. “I think when we made the commitment to the two young players last summer, we understood how that was going to affect the cap and affect decisions moving forward. He’s making $1.9 million this season and is expected to make more on his new contract He’s gonna be given a good look for the rest of this year. Now, we’ve had time to regroup and refresh, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they play on Saturday moving forward.” They are 29-14-8 for 66 points and third place in the Metropolitan Division. “This year, obviously, was the end of that era. “Finished for tonight,” Armstrong quipped via a Zoom call from Europe, where he’s finishing up a two-week scouting trip. Thomas and Jordan Kyrou both signed eight-year, $65 million contracts prior to this season. “We have younger players that weren’t part of that team, or like Robert Thomas that was a smaller piece of that team that now have to be centerpieces moving forward,” Armstrong continued.

The news of Vladimir Tarasenko's trade to the New York Rangers may have come as a surprise to many fans and analysts over the course of Thursday afternoon,

Tarasenko’s numbers may not be up to his usual standard in past years (10 goals and 29 points), but he brings a level of scoring to the top line the Rangers desperately were looking for. A trade like the one the Rangers pulled off yesterday will shoot them as top favorites in the Eastern Conference. The Russian winger requested a trade years ago and was rumored to be on the move during the offseason but nothing came to fruition. “First, the building, it’s always exciting to play there. “I haven’t really addressed anything yesterday but if I have a chance I want to say thank you to St. One of the key reasons why the trade was able to work for both sides was because of the relationship between Panarin and Tarasenko. The buildup of a trade for the Blues’ top player had reportedly been in the works for days according to Tarasenko. “Good trade to have for our organization. “I knew I was going to be moved. Louis has been trying to figure out a solution to the Tarasenko conundrum for a few years now. So happy to have him on our team. The two stars go back all the way to the 2011 World Juniors.

The New York Rangers look a whole lot deeper with their two new trade additions. Here is how the lineup could look against the Kraken.

"Last year, it worked perfectly," Gallant said. "It’s a little shock at first," Mikkola said. We’ve got to find a spot and see if that works out." "He played (17) games in a row (last month) and I thought it fell off a little bit, but you know what? As for the defense, Mikkola will slot in exactly where he was expected to fit, on the bottom pair with Braden Schneider. "He took me (under his wing)," Panarin said. Chytil has been the hottest of the bunch with seven goals in those five contests, earning him a promotion to the top power-play unit. "We want to give him an opportunity," Gallant said. We talked about being a team and playing together as a team, and I think that'll give the other guys more of an opportunity. Emotions were a bit more complicated for Tarasenko, who made a point of saying, "I want to say thank you to St. It's a big team." Louis," he said.

Following a deep run in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the New York Rangers got off to a rock start to begin the 2022-23 season.

By adding Tarasenko, who won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, the Rangers may be able to avoid a collapse like that. But it's worth wondering if they would've had the firepower to make a deep run at the Stanley Cup. They outscored the Lightning, 9-4 , in the first two games and took a surprising 2-0 series lead. With that in mind, the goal-scoring opportunities should be a tad more plentiful after playing on a Blues team that ranked 22nd in the league with just 3.00 goals-per-game. [New York Rangers](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/NYR/new-york-rangers/) got off to a rock start to begin the 2022-23 season. As you can see above, Tarasenko does have just 29 points (10 goals and 19 assists) throughout the 2022-23 season thus far, but it's important to note that injuries have limited him to just 38 games.

NHL prospect analyst Chris Peters evaluates what the St. Louis Blues got in return for trading Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers.

Feb 10 @ 7 PM It's almost always tougher for a prospect to make the big club if they've been traded to a different organization before their NHL debut. It appears the best-case scenario for Skinner is potential for bottom-pairing option at the NHL level. Landing two veteran players to help for the stretch run without parting with any of their top prospects is smart business. The Rangers were dealing from a position of strength. The Blues should be particularly happy about landing a first-round pick and adding some draft assets amid a season where they're having a hard time staying competitive. He's appeared in 48 ECHL games and has 25 points. He has the kind of power to beat a goalie clean from the blue line. He also has a very good shot from the point and puts himself in good shooting positions often. It forced him into pro hockey a year earlier than he should have been and I'm not sure he's been able to make the adjustment. Louis could get for him. According to CapFriendly, the condition on the first-round pick is that it will be the later of New York's two first-rounders as they also own Dallas's first-round pick from an earlier trade.

Vladimir Tarasenko has had a very impressive 11-year career since being selected with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft.

The New York Rangers made a big move that made a lot of people happy ahead of the NHL trade deadline on Mar. 3. Patrick Kane, who remains on the Chicago ...

The It's just one of those things that maybe the story leaks out and it piles up a little bit." [Patrick Kane](/nhl/players/1240390/patrick-kane/), who remains on the [Chicago Blackhawks](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/CHI/chicago-blackhawks/), is not one of those happy people. [New York Rangers](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/NYR/new-york-rangers/) made a big move that made a lot of people happy ahead of the [NHL](/nhl/) trade deadline on Mar. Kane said the Rangers were one of the teams he had his eye on with the trade deadline approaching. "If things were going to happen, that was a team I was definitely looking at," Kane said.

Kane hasn't yet approached Hawks GM Kyle Davidson with a trade request, so there was nothing that could be done Thursday about the Rangers' pivot.

“Else I would’ve done a 16-team no trade clause.” “In fairness to Kyle, I haven’t went to Kyle and said, ‘I wanted to go here [or] I want to [stay],” Kane said. He implied the list of teams that he’ll eventually inform Davidson are acceptable trade destinations will be very short, though. ... I think within the next 10 days or so, we’ll probably get a clearer picture of what’s going to happen.” So there was nothing Davidson could have done about the Rangers’ pivot. “If things were going to happen, that was a team I was definitely looking at.

Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks' nine-time All-Star right winger, viewed the Rangers as a potential landing spot amid uncertainty with Chicago.

“If things were going to happen, that was a team I was definitely looking at,” Kane continued. “So you definitely want what’s best for both sides.” “It’s not like the happiest I’ve been to hear about a trade,” admitted Kane after practice Friday afternoon.

Patrick Kane was not happy to hear that Vladimir Tarasenko was traded by the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers.

Tarasenko has exceeded the 30-goal mark six times in his career, and he gives the Rangers a right wing with a shoot-first mentality. While Kane has not given his approval to be traded at this point — he has a no-movement clause in his contract — he certainly is considering potential moves. But with the team lingering at the bottom of the NHL standings and clearly in a rebuilding phase, Kane is looked at a player who could make a difference for teams with championship aspirations.

Will he stay or will he go? That has been the biggest question surrounding the Chicago Blackhawks these days, with the NHL Trade Deadline Approaching and ...

With Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola added to the mix, the New York Rangers looked more balanced than they have all season.

He also effectively jumped up in the offensive rush on a couple of occasions, but he was whistled for three penalties. The last one was a bogus call, but it's still an area the 26-year-old defenseman will need to clean up. "They had a morning skate, but I thought he was good. And Lafrenière has now registered points in six of the last seven games, with his passing skills bubbling to the surface on a handful of occasions Friday. "It's not easy coming into a new team without a practice," Gallant said. The McCann goal came after a hooking call against Mikkola. That made it 3-0 Rangers with 5:31 still remaining in the first period. They entered the game having gone 3-for-30 on the PP in their previous 11 contests, prompting changes from Gallant. "As a team, when you start every season, you're aiming for the playoffs. "It’s obviously nice to connect for a goal, but we hope more are coming. "I think sometimes we tried too much, but we enjoyed playing with each other," Tarasenko said. When additions like this happen, you obviously feel a really good boost for the whole team.

Vladimir Tarasenko scored his first goal for his new team 2:49 into the first period as the host New York Rangers recorded a 6-3 victory over the slumping ...