Vladimir Tarasenko signs one-year deal with Ottawa Senators
And with that, Vladimir Tarasenko’s tenure with the Rangers is over, at least for now.
Tarasenko signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Senators on Thursday ending his brief time with the Blueshirts.
Tarasenko, 31, split the 2022-23 season with the St. Louis Blues and the Rangers. New York acquired the right winger on Feb. 9 in a trade for Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner, a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft. The Rangers also received Niko Mikkola in the deal.
A four-time All-Star, Tarasenko finished last season with 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists), which included 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) while with the Rangers.
Tarasenko’s acquisition was aimed to bolster the Rangers’ chances at making it to the Stanley Cup Finals, but the team was eliminated by the Devils in the first round. In that seven-game series, Tarasenko registered four points (three goals, one assist).
After the Rangers’ season was over, Tarasenko spoke about his time in New York and the organization as a whole.
“I like everything. Thanks to the organization for believing in me, bringing me here. It’s a very good group of guys,” Tarasenko said. “Me and my family were taken care of very well and I can’t say a single bad word about my time. The way it ended up is not good hockey-wise, but I enjoyed everything.
“I’m enjoying being here. It’s one of the top organizations in the league, maybe if not the best. They do everything for players to just play and enjoy the work.”
However, once Tarasenko reached free agency it seemed less and less likely the Rangers would be able to bring him back. Teams like the Senators, Predators, Sharks and Hurricanes were reportedly all vying for Tarasenko’s services.
