The Kraken will reportedly pass on Vladimir Tarasenko and instead select Vince Dunn from the Blues
It looks like @Vladimir Tarasenko’s change of scenery won’t involve the Seattle Kraken.
According to Frank Seravalli, Seattle has passed on selecting Tarasenko in the Expansion Draft and will instead select defenceman @Vince Dunn.
Sources say #SeaKraken also passed on another high-profile, big money player: Vladimir Tarasenko.
Subject to change but sounds like the selection from #stlblues will be Vince Dunn.@DFOHockey
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 21, 2021
Tarasenko reportedly asked for a trade from the Blues due to frustration around how the team handled his shoulder surgeries in 2018 and 2019.
Since helping the Blues win their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2019, injuries have limited Tarasenko to just 34 games over the past two seasons. He scored 33 goals in 2018-19, his most recent full season, but has just seven goals and 24 points between 2019-20 and 2021.
Though there’s significant upside with Tarasenko, his injury history and contract make him a big risk for Seattle. He carries a $7,500,000 cap hit for two more seasons and will turn 30 years old in December.
On the other hand, Dunn is a 24-year-old defender who’s coming off a season in which he scored 20 points over 43 games while logging 19:15 per night. Dunn is currently a restricted free agent and will be in need of a new contract this summer.