Why the Blues can't afford to trade Vladimir Tarasenko, now or later
A career spent in one place is a rarity in the world of sports.
After three surgeries on his left shoulder, Vladimir Tarasenko upper limb resembled more of a fury road than an appendage. The St. Louis Blues winger finished the 2020-21 season in inglorious fashion: 4 goals, a small whimper from a formerly prominent NHL goal scorer and playmaker. Even worse, he looked dejected and out of sorts.
The Blues washed out of the playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche, and Tarasenko launched a trade request tirade that overshadowed an eventful offseason for the Blues. They traded for Pavel Buchnevich, a gifted playmaker in his own right. But #91 wanted out, but General Manager Doug Armstrong found zero takers.
Last September, I wrote that Tarasenko could remedy the situation by doing something he was known to do: score goals. I think he’s answered that bell and then some.
Question: How mad are the Seattle Kraken now that they have seen what Tarasenko rebounded to this season. 68 games played, 32 goals, 41 assists. He has 20 power play points and 217 shots on goal. What was even more impressive are the defensive metrics on Tarasenko: a career-high 43 shots blocked and 74 hits applied to the bodies of opposing players.
Health and production have coincided again in Tarasenko’s career, thus making the St. Louis fan favorite and resident’s life happier. I never truly believed he wanted out; only a life line to come along from some team that wasn’t forgetting about him. Confidence and a strong mental outlook are the salt and pepper of a professional athlete’s viability. It didn’t take a seeing-eye glass or extra replay to see that he wasn’t as explosive or as versatile as he had been in his Blues career.
One of the most overlooked things is Tarasenko’s defense and overall playmaking ability. The 32 goals are a nice return to the back of the net party, but the 41 assists also mark a career high. He was the guy who took the puck down the wing the other night and waited before sliding a perfect pass to an attacking center. He doesn’t always take the shot and can draw 2-3 players into his orbit before setting up a teammate. That’s the entourage effect of his game firing on all cylinders.
The sad but true thing about Tarasenko is that he does wear his heart on his sleeve, on or off the ice. Fans can find an easy difference in the smiling, giggly winger who visits with Darren Pang after a great game and the soulless stare of a hockey player looking at a scary crossroad. The guy who constantly said he would bring a Stanley Cup to St. Louis and kept his promise is trying to collect Cup #2.
Whether or not the Blues do make a deep run into Lord Stanley’s playground this spring, one thing can’t happen this summer: The Blues can’t trade Tarasenko. Don’t even think about it, Dougie.
The return wouldn’t be worth the loss at wing and the foundation of one of the few remaining lifelong Blues. David Backes and Alex Pietrangelo left. David Perron spent years zig-zagging around the league before finding his way back for good. Jordan Binnington is merely trying to keep a grip on his job when not worrying about the future. Kids like Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, and Ville Husso are just getting warmed up.
Tarasenko, who turns 31 in December, looks better than ever and don’t expect this to be a temporary “contract grabbing” performance. He has a year left on his current contract, but the Blues should extend him soon. Take him away from this year’s team, and the playoff berth and good amount of fire is gone. What we saw from the Blues without him is not quite near as good as how they were with him--so breaking it all up now would be futile.
The window for the Blues to compete for Lord Stanley shouldn’t be closing anytime soon. Brayden Schenn, Ryan O’Reilly, and Colton “I’m not the best defenseman on my own team” Parayko aren’t going anywhere. The pieces that fortify this team will be here next year. Tarasenko should be in that group.
Trading him at this point would be futile. How often does a fan base get to see a great player start his career and end it in one spot? In this town, it’s a fleeting thing. Just ask Cardinals fans about Albert Pujols or Blues fans about Brett Hull. Unlike #5, Hull went off and won two Stanley Cups elsewhere for then-rivals. If Tarasenko walks, I’d put hard cash on him winning his second elsewhere too.
Don’t let Tarasenko find a trade or walk altogether like Hull. Keep him here. His performance isn’t dropping anytime soon. Tank is running wild and free again, a stunt double for the guy from the past two seasons.
Good to have you back, Mr. Tarasenko. Please stick around.
(Photo Credit: David Berding/USA Today Sports)