Why a Rangers-Vladimir Tarasenko Reunion Makes Sense
While the New York Rangers are on the All-Star break the burning question for the next week will be what Chris Drury does at the trade deadline to address the issues the team is dealing with.
While the Rangers sit atop the Metro with 63 points, the team has struggled with scoring goals in five-on-five play and has become far too reliant on Artemi Panarin's line for scoring.
The team desperately needs to add scoring threats and while center is one of if not the biggest needs for this team (especially with the news of Filip Chytil's concussion keeping him out the remainder of the season), right wing is another need big enough that it should be on Drury's radar.
Blake Wheeler, Kaapo Kakko, and Alexis Lafreniere have served the role for the most part in 2023-24 but, the team could certainly use a top-six scoring threat to help bolster the bottom half of the lineup.
Enter Vladimir Tarasenko.
New York Rangers: Tarasenko Should Be a Trade Target
The veteran goal scorer joined the Rangers last season by scoring three minutes into his debut with the team. Tarasenko scored 8 goals and assisted on 13 in his 31-game stint with the Rangers. He was a boost in the team's five-on-five play, scoring seven goals at even strength for the team (per Hockey-Reference).
This season for the Ottawa Senators, Tarasenko has 13 goals and 19 assists with 11 of those goals coming at even strength.
The Senators are currently at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with just 40 points on the season. This comes into play as Vladimir Tarasenko is playing on a one-year $5 Million dollar contract, making the veteran an attractive trade target for most teams in the playoff race.
The addition of Tarasenko would surely help the Rangers' odds of winning the Stanley Cup, which rank sixth in the NHL at +1100
The top line has seen a revolving door of right wings alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider with none sticking.
Getting the top-line minutes for the majority of the season Zibanejad and Kreider have scored only 19 even-strength goals — a number that needs to see a bump.
Adding Tarasenko would instantly provide the group a bump in five-on-five play, while also adding a threat for the second power play. Adding Tarasenko should be a no-brainer for Chris Drury and the front office if they can't add a productive center to replace Filip Chytil.
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