McKenna’s Musings: Some thoughts on Vladimir Tarasenko’s trade demands

Mike McKenna
Mike McKenna(MikeMcKenna56)
McKenna’s Musings: Some thoughts on Vladimir Tarasenko’s trade demands

What’s on my mind…

Does Vladimir Tarasenko still want to be traded by the St. Louis Blues? And if so, at this stage of the 2021-22 season, why?

I don’t know the whole story. I’m not Vladimir Tarasenko. But from the outside looking in, I see so many things that should make Tarasenko think twice about his request to be moved.

First things first: Blues fans still love him. Which is pretty amazing considering how personal sports fans in the city of St. Louis can take things. 

When Major League Baseball players went on strike in 1994-95, Cardinals fans were so hurt it took three years and Mark McGwire swatting 70 dingers before they were willing to come back to Busch Stadium. They can be vindictive. And they speak with their wallets.

So I was a little surprised to hear Blues fans chanting “Vladdy, Vladdy, Vladdy” during the December 17 game against the Dallas Stars in which Tarasenko scored twice.

I really believed there was a good chance fans would have turned against him after learning of his trade request. One of those “our city isn’t good enough for you?” things. But no, they still love Tarasenko.

And they should, really. The St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup in 2019 and Tarasenko played a big part. He scored 33 goals that season and added 11 more during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Simply put: he’s a St. Louis sports hero.

So why would he want out?

The Blues are in a playoff spot. And Tarasenko is tearing it up on a line with fellow Russian forwards Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Buchnevich.

But as reported by The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford this past offseason, Tarasenko has long been upset with how the Blues handled multiple shoulder surgeries dating back to 2018.

It’s no coincidence that the Blues forward didn’t look like himself the past few NHL seasons. He wasn’t healthy. But Tarasenko found help. A third surgery – from a doctor not affiliated with the Blues – was able to repair ligament damage in his shoulder.

Now he looks as sharp as ever. Tarasenko is leading the Blues with 29 points in 31 games so far this season. He’s moving his feet and driving to middle ice. He’s winning battles and carrying the puck with a purpose. He looks hungry.

And perhaps most importantly, Tarasenko is smiling.

When he’s engaged and playing with confidence, Tarasenko is one of the best players in hockey. I know first hand. We’ve skated together plenty of times. From informal summer skates to live action in the NHL – Tarasenko has had no problem filling the net behind me. 

Yes, his snapshot is hard. But it’s also incredibly difficult to read off the blade. His wrists are quick. And he disguises the release with a slight dragging motion. From 2014-2019, Tarasenko scored 182 goals, third most in the NHL behind only Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares.

This season hasn’t been all about goal scoring for Tarasenko. He’s found the back of the net 12 times, but also dished out 17 assists. And a lot of that success can be attributed to the line he’s playing on.

Ever since Blues head coach Craig Berube put Tarasenko together with Barbashev and Buchnevich, they’ve been magic. They’re 1-2-3 in team scoring.

When I watch the Blues play, I see this line enter the offensive zone with confidence. They aren’t afraid to play down low, cycle the puck and retain possession. Eventually they wear down opponents, which in turn opens up passing lanes.

So why, Vladimir, would you want to leave this? Your entire line speaks the same language. You’ve helped turn Barbashev into a top-six player in the NHL. He and Buchnevich are each only 26 years old. Your line could be dangerous for years to come.

Are you really going to find a better fit? Are you still so hurt by what has transpired that you need to get out of St. Louis? Can the relationship with the Blues not be mended?

I’ve seen situations like this go both ways. If the trade works out well and the player is happy and productive, great. But when it goes sideways – it can be really difficult for a player to come to grips with their decision to move on from an organization. There’s risk involved. And behind closed doors, there are often regrets.

That’s exactly what would keep me up at night if I was Tarasenko – the risk of the unknown. There’s no guarantee his family would like a new city. And he would have to find his place within a different team relatively late in his career. He’s 30-years-old and has played every minute of his 10-year NHL career for the St. Louis Blues.

It brings me back to my original point of how much the fans in St. Louis adore the man who’s 230 goals currently rank fifth all-time among Blues players. Recently I was coaching the 8u hockey club that my daughter plays on and I asked them who their favorite player was.

Seven of the nine answered Vladimir Tarasenko.

That’s part of my point. When I played, I wanted to feel the love from the stands. I craved that feeling. It gave me the sense that I was playing for something larger than myself. That everyone in the building was on the same team, regardless of who was on the ice.

Relationships can turn sour in any avenue of life. When it’s business, it’s messy. No doubt that’s what Tarasenko has felt and why the trade request happened in the first place.

But I think the next time Tarasenko scores on home ice, he needs to listen. Because the cheers, the chanting of his name, that may not happen in another city. In St. Louis, he’s a hero. In another city, he’d be a piece of the puzzle.

Maybe he wants less of the spotlight. But I don’t really get that vibe from the Russian sniper. I think he loves the big stage and wants to add multiple Stanley Cup rings to his trophy case. Those are positive qualities. Teams want players that thrive in difficult environments.

But teams don’t want a lingering hangover caused by a trade request.

I’d urge Tarasenko to look at the big picture on this. The Blues are still a threat to win another Stanley Cup if they can get healthy in the next couple months. He’s playing on one of the hottest lines in the NHL. And the fans want him to stay in St. Louis.

Maybe the relationship between Tarasenko and the Blues is irreparable. I can’t judge that. But I do know how crushing it would be for thousands of young Blues fans to find out their favorite player was traded  because he wanted out.

So really all I’m saying is this: think about it, Vladdy. So many reasons exist why staying with the Blues makes sense. You’re a sports icon in St. Louis. 

But it’s your call.

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