The St. Louis Blues were bounced by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the NHL Playoffs, but their path back to the postseason may become more difficult this offseason. While Vladimir Tarasenko overcame the odds and put up some prolific numbers in the 2021-22 campaign, it seems he is still upset with the organization following their treatment of him over the past few years.
Recent reports from Frank Seravalli indicate that Tarasenko, who requested a trade from the organization last year, remains adamant on leaving the franchise. While the Blues didn't grant his request last season, Tarasenko has reportedly never rescinded his trade request and remains hopeful to be moved during the offseason.
No doubt, the #stlblues are a team to watch over next few days. Vladimir Tarasenko has no plans to rescind his trade request, he’d still like to move on.
And as reported this morning, Torey Krug is a name the Blues have gauged interest in.https://t.co/vJARpgnRFa
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 6, 2022
Despite St. Louis making Tarasenko available in the NHL Expansion Draft, and the medical staff botching two surgeries on his shoulder, the veteran leader was sensational in 2021-22, and now he's looking to parlay that success into a nice new landing spot within the league. Clearly, with plenty left in the tank despite the injury history, Tarasenko could be a great addition for any team in need of help along the wing in the offseason. A proven winner, the Blues will likely be fielding calls from various contenders, or teams looking to get into the mix for a playoff spot.
With all that in mind, here are the three best destinations for Vladimir Tarasenko if he's traded by the Blues.
Vladimir Tarasenko: 3 best trade destinations in 2022 offseason
As mentioned by Seravalli, the Hurricanes would represent an intriguing landing spot for Tarasenko this offseason. Carolina could stand to improve offensively, and Tarasenko would be a great addition to help them do just that. Already one of the most dominant defensive teams in the league, Carolina could be a star attacker away from making their final push towards a Stanley Cup.
The 30-year-old could immediately be inserted into the Canes' first line, bumping the young Seth Jarvis down to second-line duties. Pairing Tarasenko with Teuvo Tervainen and Sebastian Aho would be a lethal trio for Carolina, and could help bolster their offensive output.
The Devils are expected to be active in the market to land a top winger this offseason. New Jersey had strong links to Kevin Fiala before the Minnesota Wild dealt him to the Los Angeles Kings. With Fiala unavailable, New Jersey could look to flip a deal for Tarasenko. While he's significant older than Fiala, Tarasenko has a better track record and also boasts a Stanley Cup championship on his resume. He could be a great veteran leader to pair with the younger attackers in New Jersey, including Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier.
The Devils have a need at right wing, which was one of their least deep positions during the season last year. Tarasenko scored 34 goals and added 48 assists last year. His 82 points were more than any player on the Devils recorded in 2021-22. Adding Tarasenko to the mix could be a huge move for the Devils as they look to make a playoff push next season.
The Washington Capitals could be active in the offseason as they look to buff up the roster with their championship window beginning to close. It's do-or-die time in Washington, as they need to look to get the most out of an aging roster and win a title before it's inevitably time to blow things up. Adding a player of Tarasenko's caliber could be a crucial move for Washington as they look to stage a deep playoff run.
While the Capitals have solid depth at the right wing position, Tom Wilson is expected to be sidelined for a while after undergoing surgery. Tarasenko would be an upgrade to the top lines over the likes of T.J. Oshie and Conor Sheary and could help get the Caps' offense rolling throughout the year.
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