Panthers Acquire Tarasenko From Senators

The Florida Panthers have acquired 32-year-old forward Vladimir Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators, the team announced today. 

The reported trade package heading back to Ottawa is a fourth-round pick in 2024 (becomes 2026 third if Florida wins the cup) and a third-round pick in 2025, per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. Ottawa also retains 50 percent of Tarasenko’s $5M contract in the trade.

The four-time All-Star signed a one-year contract, with a full no-trade clause, this summer with the Senators. He had to waive his NTC to facilitate a trade to Florida. 

Tarasenko, 32, has been an offensive threat for most of his career — putting up 615 points  (287 goals, 328 assists) in 732 career games. This season with Ottawa, Tarasenko has 17 goals and 41 points through 57 games. 

The skilled forward will be able to bring some additional firepower to the top-six in Florida — whether that’s next to Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, or Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. 

“Vladimir is a highly skilled and experienced scoring winger who provides our club with another dynamic offensive option as we embark on the remainder of our season,” Panthers GM Bill Zito said. “We are excited for him to join our team, and to compete for the Stanley Cup once again.”

A 2019 Stanley Cup champion with the St.Louis Blues, Tarasenko spent the first 11 seasons of his NHL career in St. Louis before being traded to the New York Rangers ahead of the 2022-23 NHL trade deadline. Current Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola also went to New York in the trade. 

Tarasenko will see a few familiar faces once he gets to Sunrise. He has represented Russia in numerous international tournaments alongside Panthers’ goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. He most recently played with Mikkola in St.Louis and New York. 

The trade deadline is Friday, March 8 at 3 p.m. ET.