Blues trade Vladimir Tarasenko to Rangers

According to The Athletic‘s Arthur Staple, the Rangers received Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the Blues in exchange for a conditional 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 third-round pick, forward Sammy Blais, and defense prospect Hunter Skinner.

The Blues also agreed to retain half of Tarasenko’s remaining salary. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound winger is set to become an unrestricted free agent when his contract, which carries a $7.5 million cap hit, expires at the end of the 2022–23 season.

Tarasenko, 31, has 10 goals and 29 points in 38 games with the Blues this year. Given the full no-trade clause in his contract, he would’ve had to agree to be moved to the Rangers.

A six-time 30-goal scorer and a Stanley Cup champion with the Blues in 2019, Tarasenko exits St. Louis with 262 goals and 553 points in 644 games. He reportedly requested a trade away from the Blues in 2021.

Mikkola, 26, is a left-handed defenseman who recorded three assists while averaging 16:39 in 50 games with the Blues this season. In a corresponding move to take on Mikkola’s contract (which is also expiring and carries a $1.9 million AAV), the Rangers waived defenseman Libor Hajek on Thursday.

According to Staple, the Blues will receive the lower of the Rangers’ two 2023 first-round picks (Dallas’ and their own). The 2024 third-round pick will become a fourth-round pick if the Rangers miss the playoffs.

Blais, 26, previously played for the Blues from 2017 to 2021, winning the Stanley Cup as Tarasenko’s teammate in 2019. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound winger has five points (all assists) in 40 games with the Rangers this season.

Skinner, 21, was the Rangers’ fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound defenseman has two assists in eight AHL games with the Hartford Wolf Pack this season.