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4 trade destinations for St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko

By Brad Berreman

Mar 25, 2021; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) looks on in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2021; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) looks on in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Vladimir Tarasenko trade fits: New Jersey Devils

The Devils are trying to take the step from a promising team to a playoff contender, with some big moves (P.K. Subban) that haven’t worked out on that front. With two young centers (Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier) that have never been flanked by great talent outside of Taylor Hall during his MVP season, they could use an injection of skill into their top-six forwards.

Coming off two injury-plagued seasons, but still shy of 30 years old (he’ll turn it on Dec. 12), Tarasenko needs a change of scenery and it seems he and the Blues know it. As Nick Villano of Pucks and Pitchforks pointed to, New Jersey would be a lower-pressure situation for Tarasenko to rebuild his stock as he nears the end of his contract.

Tarasenko could be revived by playing with Hughes and/or Hischier, while New Jersey could certainly use his experience and goal-scoring prowess (assuming health, but playing for Russia in the IIHF World Championships suggests he’s healthy). Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald has a good situation to sell to Tarasenko’s camp, and the Blues can trade him out of sight to a team they’ll rarely play if they fear that at all.

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