Florida Panthers acquire Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa Senators for pair of draft picks

Tarasenko has been near the top of most trade target lists for the last couple of months, including at #14 on Frank Seravalli’s latest Trade Targets list. The Senators considered re-signing Tarasenko to a contract extension but given their place in the standings, they decided to offload him for future draft picks. This is the first trade that the Senators have made since Michael Andlauer bought the team and Steve Staios was hired as general manager.

Tarasenko has played 57 games for the Senators this year, putting up 17 goals and 41 points, along with 12 penalty minutes and a +13 rating. He ranked fifth on the team in points, third in goals, and second in +/-. He was originally brought into the team on a one-year, $5 million contract on July 27, 2023. Ottawa wasn’t his first choice of destination and he was reportedly looking for a longer-term deal with a bigger cap hit but ran out of options as teams ran out of cap space.

The signing proved to be a decent piece of work by then general manager Pierre Dorion but didn’t move the needle enough to get the team into the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Tarasenko created some chemistry with a number of linemates on the Senators and by all accounts was a good veteran presence in the locker room.

The Panthers are looking to bulk up for the playoffs and adding a talented veteran like Tarasenko is a move that will help them contend for the Stanley Cup this season. Florida will need to find a place in the lineup for Tarasenko without jeopardising their current line chemistry. The Russian winger is a versatile player who can play on the first line or the third line if called upon.

This is the second straight year that Tarasenko has been dealt to a contender at the trade deadline as he was acquired by the New York Rangers at last year’s deadline from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Sammy Blais, a first-round pick, and a fourth-round pick.