Rangers Acquire Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola

New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Sammy Blais, and Hunter Skinner.
Tarasenko, 31, has skated in 38 games for the St. Louis Blues this season, tallying 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points. From the beginning of the season until December 27, Tarasenko's 29 points and 19 assists ranked third on the Blues, and his 10 goals ranked tied for third on the team.
The Yaroslavl, Russia native has played 11 seasons in the NHL (2012-13 - 2022-23), all with the Blues, where he's collected 262 goals and 291 assists for 553 points in 644 games. Last season, Tarasenko notched career-highs in assists (48) and points (82). In his career, he has scored 30-plus goals on six different occasions, with his career-high total coming in 2015-16 (40). Since 2014-15, Tarasenko is one of three skaters in the NHL (others: Alex Ovechkin, Auston Matthews) to post 33-plus goals in six or more different seasons.

The 6-1, 228 pound winger departs St. Louis with the fifth most goals and points in franchise history, seventh most assists, sixth most power play goals (65), and third most game-winning goals (44).
Tarasenko has played in 90 postseason games with the Blues, recording 41 goals and 19 assists for 60 points. In 2019, Tarasenko helped guide the team to its first ever Stanley Cup with 17 points (11G-6A) in 26 playoff games. Since 2012-13, Tarasenko's 41 playoff goals are tied for the fifth most in the NHL and his 13 power play goals in that span are tied for the ninth most. Tarasenko was originally drafted by the Blues in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Mikkola, 26, has notched three assists/points and a plus-2 rating in 50 games with St. Louis this season. He ranks third on the team in hits with 96, third in blocked shots with 68 and has the second most shorthanded time on ice on the club (92:34)
The Kiiminki, Finland native has played parts of four seasons in the NHL, all with the Blues (2019-20 - 2022-23), where he's collected four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 139 games. Last season, he posted career-highs in games played (54), goals (3), assists (10) and points (13). In addition, Mikkola has added two assists/points in 16 playoff games with the Blues over two seasons.
The 6-4, 209-pound defenseman has represented Finland at a variety of international tournaments, including the World Junior Championship and World Championship, where he won a gold medal in 2019 alongside Kaapo Kakko.
Mikkola was originally selected by the Blues in the fifth round, 127th overall, of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.