Will The Blues Find A Taker For Vladimir Tarasenko?

Will The Blues Find A Taker For Vladimir Tarasenko?

Vladimir Tarasenko is pissed. Real pissed. The Blues talented scoring winger has requested a trade because of his unhappiness with team doctors. Tarasenko believes the Blues mishandled his shoulder surgeries. There’s just one problem. Does anybody actually want him?

Health is the number one concern here. Tarasenko has only played in 42 games over the last two seasons including the postseason. The Blues winger has had major shoulder injuries and has two years remaining on a big money deal. Tarasenko carries a $7.5 million cap hit which will be difficult for any team to swallow.

The talent is still here. When healthy, all of the advanced metrics favor Tarasenko still being a guy that can light up the back of the net.

Vladimir Tarasenko, requesting a trade from STL, was a consistently elite offensive weapon up until his injury problems. Now he's a big question mark. Upside is immense, but there's obviously a risk associated. #STLBlues pic.twitter.com/ifgGjzGV7v

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 8, 2021

From the 2014-15 season through the 2018-19, campaign Tarasenko scored at least 33 goals each season. I’m just not sure we’re ever seeing that guy again. I took a flier on Tarasenko in fantasy and the decision to ever put him in the lineup almost always backfired. He’s set to turn 30 this upcoming season and already struggles to stay on the ice.

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Never say never with the way NHL teams have proven to operate. However, it’s tough to find a team that will swallow Tarasenko’s contract unless the Blues are willing to retain salary. Something I’m not sure a team is willing to do that just came off a trip to the postseason.

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