SERAVALLI: Ice Breakers … Latest on Tarasenko, DeAngelo and Ekman-Larsson
TAMPA, Fla. — Welcome to the inaugural edition of “Ice Breakers,” a new regular feature on DailyFaceoff.com where we’ll pass along news and tidbits from around the National Hockey League.
Let’s break the ice:
> The St. Louis Blues are exploring a trade for star winger Vladimir Tarasenko. While Tarasenko does hold the cards with a full no-trade clause, upon further vetting, it appears the player has alerted St. Louis to several teams he’d be willing to be dealt. A change of scenery is in order.
(Tarasenko will be featured on the next edition of Trade Targets, which highlights 20 names in play.)
Tarasenko, 29, has two years remaining on his deal at $7.5 million per season. He has played just 34 games total over the last two seasons as a result of a recurring shoulder injury – but those issues has been corrected and he is healthy.
When at full-strength, Tarasenko demonstrated he is one of the most consistent scorers in the league, hitting the 30-goal mark in five straight seasons – with back-to-back 39 and 40-goal campaigns. He is fifth all-time in Blues franchise history in goals with 218 and collected 442 points over 531 games wearing the Note.
The Blues are going to be one of the fascinating teams to watch over the next six weeks. Between Tarasenko potentially on the move, plus Mike Hoffman, Jaden Schwartz and Tyler Bozak all set to become unrestricted free agents, that’s a lot of goals to replace.
> The New York Rangers have finalized plans to buy out the final year of defenseman Tony DeAngelo’s contract, set to become official once the first buyout window opens 24 hours after the Stanley Cup Final concludes.
We’ve all expected a buyout on the horizon for DeAngelo, who was dismissed from the team by then-GM Jeff Gorton for an off-ice incident on Jan. 31 – but we now have a sense of the timing.
Since DeAngelo is 25, the buyout will only cost New York one-third of his remaining dollars, rather than two-thirds for players who are 26 and older. The cost will be spread over two years, leaving the Blueshirts with a cap charge of $383,000 in 2021-22 and $883,000 in 2022-23 – and a total of nearly $4.5 million in dead money for new GM Chris Drury to manage alongside other lingering buyouts of Henrik Lundqvist ($1.5m), Kevin Shattenkirk ($1.4m) and Dan Girardi ($1.1m).
DeAngelo will become an unrestricted free agent. It’s believed that at least five teams contacted the Rangers and DeAngelo’s camp with interest in the right-shooting defenseman between his dismissal and the April trade deadline, though the Rangers were not willing to retain salary knowing an inexpensive buyout was on the horizon. Despite his off-ice history and reputation, that’s an indication there will certainly be interest in the power play quarterback capable of 50-plus points.
> The Boston Bruins may revisit trade talks on Arizona Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The bigger question: Could a potential package include winger and Boston native Conor Garland? The Bruins are believed to have interest in both.
We know that Boston was one of Ekman-Larsson’s two desired locations last offseason. Talks came down to the wire of a deadline set by the Ekman-Larsson camp for new GM Bill Armstrong to pull the trigger, but fell short.
The big issue then – and one that remains to be seen – is how much money Arizona is willing to retain on Ekman-Larsson’s deal. He has a whopping six years remaining at $8.25 million AAV per season with nearly $50 million in real cash to be paid.
The Coyotes were barely willing to move the needle then, sources suggesting a willingness to shave off $1.25 million or so per season, but even that was not firm. Will Armstrong be willing to retain more now? That is the key to making a deal happen, not just in Boston but anywhere else.
Ekman-Larsson is willing to be more flexible on his destination this offseason, as well. He will reportedly consider whatever is presented to him by Arizona, which is believed to be operating under a significantly lowered internal budget next season.
One way to better pique the interest of the Bruins? Include Garland in the conversation. It’s clear that Garland is on his way out of the desert. The scrappy Scituate, Mass., native has enjoyed success in a Bruins jersey before – racking up 42 goals and 94 points in just 40 games in a season with the Boston Jr. Bruins playing alongside Jack Eichel. (He actually outscored Eichel that season.)
> Referee Wes McCauley is missed at the Stanley Cup Final. Recognized as perhaps the NHL’s best on-ice official, McCauley is missing a ninth straight Final assignment after being sidelined during Round 3 with a positive Covid-19 test. We’re sending our best to McCauley for a full and speedy recovery.
Referee Eric Furlatt is making his first Final appearance in his place, while linesmen David Brisebois, Michel Cormier and Kiel Murchison were also tapped with the honor for the first time.