Analysis: Vladimir Tarasenko's trade changes the dynamic of the Rangers

Vladimir Tarasenko has been a part of the St. Louis Blues organization for the course of the last 10 years, and now, he's a part of a new organization for the first time in his career. Tarasenko was traded to the New York Rangers on Thursday, in which the return net the St. Louis Blues Sammy Blais, prospect Hunter Skinner, and multiple draft picks. With a retool or rebuild possibly coming soon for the Blues by trading their longest tenured player, now was a great time to move Tarasenko on to another place. Tarasenko has half a year remaining on his contract with an AAV of $7.5 million (8 years, $60 million originally signed in 2015).

Yes, it will be a challenge for the Rangers to find room to sign Tarasenko at the end of the year, but the most important is now for the Rangers. Chris Drury is clearly not afraid to make a bold statement now, in order for potential long-term payoff of a Stanley Cup. Why not take the risk? Especially for a a player of Tarasenko's caliber, it's hard to find players of his dynamic, skill, and overall style of play.

Tarasenko's lethal goal-scoring ability is still in tact, as he shows a knack for getting to high-danger areas. With a quick release that he can shoot with off either foot, weight transfer quickly, and still use his hands to make plays and handle pucks in dangerous areas, he's still a magical threat with the puck. He's an elite sniper who still has top-six qualities in every facet of his game. No, he won't be known for his defensive play, but that doesn't mean he is a lazy player.

In my personal opinion, the challenge for goal-scorers nowadays is that they're often mislabeled for being lazy, when in reality it's only based on the defensive side of the puck. Goal scorers have a knack for trying to create for their teammates, getting to the right spots for their teammates, and being able to be an option between checks to still be a threat off-puck. If goal scorers are lazy, then why would they be trying to fight so hard for position in the offensive zone, and why are they so good at it?

Tarasenko is a prime example of this. As a player who has never been known for his defensive play, his goal-scoring abilities are sometimes overlooked, especially in the analytical world. He's still one of the best players in the league at creating scoring chances, high-danger scoring chances, driving the middle lane, and driving the attack offensively.

What I really like most about Tarasenko is his hands. Yes, he is a quality goal-scorer, but he thrives at using his hands inside contact to make plays. Ever since he was a rookie in the league, he's terrorized defenders at using his hands for manipulation and deceptive purposes. He understands how to maneuver around defenders with his route timing, and adapt with his situational awareness and close puck support.

With players like Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin on his line with the Rangers now, Tarasenko's numbers should take a bit of an increase, especially in neutral zone possession rates as well as offensive zone scoring chances. He still drives play at a quality rate on zone entries, but still has more upside in New York at improving his success rate now. A fluid, crisp, and accurate puck-mover, Tarasenko has matured greatly over the years at using his poise and heads-up ability to manipulate defenders on zone entries.

Panarin also does a real effective job of getting off the wall, and using his hands to drive possession up the middle. Russian hockey players typically learn at a young age to play a puck possession style, rather than the classic North American game of dump-and-chase. That's one of the main reasons why Panarin and Tarasenko's habits can work really well off one another, and why early chemistry can form between the two.

Tarasenko's advanced rates in other areas this season are puzzlingly low. His xG% stands at 44.59%, HDCF% at 42.86%, and HDGF% at 37.50% according to Natural Stat Trick. With better linemates, more direction, and a better core of puck-movers around him, those numbers are likely due for an increase in the Rangers system.

If Tarasenko can evolve into a consistent puck possession player in the neutral zone, and still maintain his ability to generate effective offense by increasing volume in his shooting and production, then the Rangers are going to have an offensive dynamo for the second half of the season and the playoffs. It should be very exciting to see what is in store for Tarasenko, especially with how well he's played over the long stretch of his career.

It's no doubt that Tarasenko will bring magical playmaking, elite level shooting, and creative hands to kickstart the Rangers offense to another gear, but how long will the transition take for him to start?

That we will see, as Tarasenko is set to make his debut for the Rangers tonight against the Seattle Kraken.

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