Four-time All-Star winger Vladimir Tarasenko is reportedly prepared to waive his no-trade clause for a Stanley Cup contender, according to sources cited by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
Despite previous indications that the 32-year-old may have preferred to stay with the Senators for the remainder of the season, recent reports from Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia suggest that he is now likely to be moved before the March 8 trade deadline.
Tarasenko’s willingness to entertain a move aligns with expectations set at the start of the season. It was anticipated that if the Senators found themselves out of playoff contention close to the deadline, they would look to trade the 2019 Stanley Cup champion, who they signed to a one-year, $5 million deal in free agency. Despite facing challenges securing a commitment when free agency began on July 1, Tarasenko eventually settled on Ottawa’s offer of complete trade protection, giving him control over his destiny if a trade were to occur.
Although Tarasenko’s days of consistently scoring 30 goals in a season are behind him due to significant shoulder injuries in 2019 and 2020, he has been a valuable contributor as a top-six forward in Ottawa. In 55 games, he has tallied 15 goals, 23 assists, 38 points, and a +12 rating while averaging 15 minutes and 59 seconds of ice time per game.
Despite his positive rating on a struggling team, Tarasenko’s performance doesn’t suggest a sudden transformation into a top-tier shutdown winger. His expected rating and even-strength Corsi For percentage (CF%) are both average within the team, indicating he is not a significant liability either. Furthermore, his expected goals share with linemates Drake Batherson and Tim Stützle is solid, according to MoneyPuck.
Teams interested in acquiring Tarasenko will gain a skilled middle-six forward with Stanley Cup-winning experience, similar to what the Rangers acquired from the Blues at last year’s deadline. If the Senators choose to retain half of Tarasenko’s $5 million cap hit and reduce his cost to $2.5 million for his new team, they could expect to receive at least a second-round pick in return.
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