Rangers acquire Vladimir Tarasenko from Blues

The New York Rangers acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

The Blues will receive forward Sammy Blais, prospect Hunter Skinner and two draft picks in exchange for Mikkola and Tarasenko, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Blues get a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024.

Tarasenko is playing in the final season of an 8-year, $60 million contract and the Blues will reportedly retain part of that salary as part of the deal.

Tarasenko, 31, has 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 38 games this season. He collected one goal and three assists in the Central Division's 6-4 victory over the Pacific Division on Saturday during the All-Star Game tournament.

Tarasenko is one season removed from recording career-best totals in assists (48) and points (82).

He has 553 points (262 goals, 291 assists) in 644 career games since being selected by the Blues with the 16th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft. He helped St. Louis win the Stanley Cup in 2019.

Blais, 26, played his first four seasons with the Blues and was also a member of the Stanley Cup team. He has five assists in 40 games this season and 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 173 career games with St. Louis and New York.

Mikkola, 26, has three assists in 50 games with St. Louis this season. He ranks third on the team in hits with 96 and third in blocked shots with 68. He has 20 career points (four goals, 16 assists) in parts of four seasons with the Blues.

Skinner, 21, was a fourth-round pick by the Rangers in 2019. The defenseman has two assists in eight games this season with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.