The New York Rangers selected to be aggressive a number of weeks forward of the NHL commerce deadline, and it labored out of their favor.
On Thursday, the Rangers acquired winger Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues. In return, the Blues acquired Sammy Blais, prospect Hunter Skinner, a conditional 2023 first-round choose and a conditional 2024 fourth-round choose.
This was a deal that made sense for either side. The Rangers are Stanley Cup contenders in a really aggressive Metropolitan Division, and so they stuffed a necessity on the prime of their lineup. The Blues, alternatively, have fallen out of the playoff image and wanted to get one thing for Tarasenko earlier than his contract expires this summer season.
Let’s take a deeper have a look at precisely how properly every staff fared on this commerce.
New York Rangers
It was no secret that the Rangers had been hoping to improve their top-six forward of the commerce deadline, and buying Tarasenko does precisely that. With six 30-goal seasons beneath his belt, Tarasenko brings the form of scoring contact the Rangers have been in search of over the past a number of months.
In the 2021-22 season, Tarasenko was probably the greatest wingers within the NHL. In 75 video games performed, he scored 34 targets whereas including a profession excessive 48 assists. In the Blues’ 12 playoff video games, Tarasenko tallied six targets and 9 factors.
Speaking of the postseason, Tarasenko additionally brings a Stanley Cup pedigree to the Rangers. When the Blues gained the Cup in 2019, Tarasenko was second on the staff with 11 targets in 26 video games.
Sometimes it may take some time for commerce acquisitions to get comfy with their new staff, however Tarasenko may be a pure match with the Rangers. He might slot in on the highest line with Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, and that could possibly be a deadly mixture nearly immediately. Even if head coach Gerard Gallant wished to go in a unique course, enjoying Tarasenko and Chris Kreider on the identical line could possibly be a headache for opposing defenders and goaltenders.
With Tarasenko within the lineup, the Rangers have a greater probability of going toe-to-toe with Eastern Conference juggernauts just like the Carolina Hurricanes or Boston Bruins.
When it involves Nikko Mikkola, he’ll play a depth function on the Rangers’ blue line. He might not make a big impact, however Mikkola ought to a minimum of be an improve over Libor Hajek, who was waived after the deal was finalized.
If the Rangers gave up a haul to land Tarasenko, it could be robust guilty them given their standing as a contender. However, basic supervisor Chris Drury did not have to provide away the farm on this deal.
Blais, who can be returning to the Blues as a part of this deal, scored zero targets in 54 video games with the Rangers. Skinner is a former fourth-round choose who has been grinding away within the ECHL this season. The solely vital asset the Rangers gave up on this commerce was the conditional first-round choose, however they nonetheless have one other first-round choice within the 2023 NHL Draft.
This was a wonderful deal for a Rangers staff that’s in the midst of its championship window. They did not have to surrender a lot for Tarasenko, who has confirmed he might be an elite scorer when wholesome, and so they nonetheless have one other first-round choose at their disposal in the event that they wish to make an extra massive splash. Grade — A
St. Louis Blues
It has been a tough season for the Blues, however that most likely did not make this transfer any simpler. Tarasenko has been an integral a part of the St. Louis group for 11 seasons, and he helped the franchise grasp its first Stanley Cup banner. Still, this was a transfer that needed to be made because the Blues start to rebuild round their younger core.
Nine factors out of a playoff spot with simply 31 video games remaining, the Blues realized they needed to get one thing in alternate for Tarasenko, who will develop into a free agent this summer season. St. Louis was in a position to get some draft capital, however it’s onerous to not be a minimum of a bit of underwhelmed by this return.
Blais wasn’t efficient in his time with the Rangers, and it is onerous to see him being a part of the long-term future in St. Louis. Skinner is 21 years previous and hasn’t been in a position to carve out an everyday function on the AHL degree, which does not bode properly for his NHL probabilities.
That leaves the draft picks as the most important portion of the return. The first-round choose will assist the Blues restock their prospect pool, however it is going to be the later of the Rangers’ two first-round picks, per the situations of the commerce. The 2024 conditional fourth-round choose will develop into a third-round choose if the Rangers make the playoffs subsequent yr, which looks as if a strong wager at this level.
The Blues had been in a tricky place right here. Teams knew they needed to deal Tarasenko earlier than the deadline, and that price them some leverage in commerce talks. St. Louis was in a position to get some worth out of a pending free agent, together with a first-round choose, however the return does go away a bit of to be desired. Grade — B
