As news broke across the hockey world at midday on Wednesday that Vladimir Tarasenko was on his way to Sunrise, a sense of excitement was palpable for Florida Panthers fans. Many expected general manager Bill Zito to take a conservative approach to this year’s trade deadline — given the success of the team and the lack of organizational assets to acquire top end talent at deadline prices.
However, a gift fell into the Panthers lap. Tarasenko had shrewdly negotiated a one-year deal with a full no-movement clause with the Ottawa Senators last summer and he exerted his control by putting Florida at the very top of his list. Unlike two years ago when the same was thought for Claude Giroux and Zito paid a premium price that included a first round draft pick and a now two-time 20-goal scorer Owen Tippett, this time the Panthers used Tarasenko’s leverage to their advantage.
Zito sent two draft picks to Ottawa. A fourth round pick in 2024 that will become a third round selection if the Panthers win the Stanley Cup and a third round pick in 2025. The Senators also retained 50 percent of Tarasenko’s $5 million salary which allows the front office more space to add before Friday’s deadline. At most, Zito will have paid two draft picks outside the top-64 for 20 regular season games and whatever may come in the playoffs of Tarasenko. The cost for Tarasenko may seem low for a player with his name recognition, but considering the context of his contract with the Senators the return is adequate.
We should also consider that the Panthers are not acquiring the 2018-19 version of Vladimir Tarasenko. The Tarasenko that scored 203 goals over a six-year stretch from 2013-14 to 2018-19 is long gone. He’s not a top line player anymore. He’s not a driver of offense. He’s not a superstar.
This year, with a struggling and inconsistent Ottawa team, Tarasenko’s possession numbers are subpar. He’s the seventh-most effective forward at even-strength and his scoring chances are down considerably from his prime years. This won’t be the first time that Tarasenko plays the role of hired gun. Last season, the Rangers acquired him for the final 31 games of the regular season and he put up 21 points and eight goals. He was often paired up with high-level offensive stars like Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck.
So, if you’re expecting Tarasenko to come to Sunrise and suddenly score every other game just because his quality of linemates is better than what he has done with Senators, you might want to saddle those expectations.
However, Tarasenko is not without value. He is still a very good shooter of the puck with a sniper’s mentality. His shooting percentage is a quality 14.7 percent and he’s joining a possession juggernaut that puts more pucks to the net than any other team in the NHL. Tarasenko isn’t exactly an intimidating physical player, but he does some work on the wall and he’s performed well with the highly structured Blues teams in the past. He can help round out the Panthers power-play units — either adding a top end one-time shooting option on the first power-play unit or being the focal point of the second. Finally, Tarasenko provides some insurance should one of the Panthers top six forwards miss time or underperform in the playoffs. He’s still a bonafide middle six producer and possibly could find a fit with Aleksander Barkov if he’s willing to play the left side a little more.
Paul Maurice is going to have to find out how this rather large piece now fits into a lineup that has been humming along. Tarasenko is going to need to mesh with the room. His production numbers may be less important in these remaining regular season games than his actual commitment to and understanding of Maurice’s system.
Tarasenko is still a dangerous player. Not what he once was, but a guy that can put the puck in the back of the net is a huge asset to add as the Panthers prepare for a run for the Stanley Cup.