Bleedin' Blue
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Common Theme In The Blues Success Has Been Vladimir Tarasenko

ByJason Martin|
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 01: Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues skates with the puck as Dmitry Kulikov #29 and Ryan Hartman #38 of the Minnesota Wild defend in the second period during the NHL Winter Classic at Target Field on January 01, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 01: Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues skates with the puck as Dmitry Kulikov #29 and Ryan Hartman #38 of the Minnesota Wild defend in the second period during the NHL Winter Classic at Target Field on January 01, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The St. Louis Blues are in first place in the Central Division, and their success should be credited to disgruntled superstar Vladimir Tarasenko.

St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko famously made headlines over the offseason demanding a trade after not being happy with the way his shoulder surgeries were handled.

The Russian forward is not playing like he is unhappy with his team. Not only has Tarasenko been producing, but he is healthy and producing, and he is doing it all throughout the lineup.

Tarasenko’s versatility has proved immense this season. However, in a year marked by uncertainty and constant lineup changes, he was placed with various forwards in 2021.

Two weeks ago, head coach Craig Berube couldn’t split up the Russian line of Tarasenko, Ivan Barbashev, and Pavel Buchnevich as it blossomed into one of the best lines in the league.

This line proved so effective, that Tarsenko, Barbashev, and Buchnevich were the top three point leaders for the Blues before the new year. Barbashev has never seen this type of production in his career, and it has only elevated Buchnevich’s game.

In the last two games, Tarasenko has been on the wing of yet another line that has proved to be one of the best lines in hockey. In a game that featured Tarasenko scoring his third-career outdoor goal, he was placed with Robert Thomas and budding star Jordan Kyrou.

There’s more to Tarasenko’s game this season besides the offensive numbers. He looks to have more of a commitment to the defensive side of the game and has aided the Blues to have allowed the 12th least goals in the league.

The Blues’ leader in goals has also dished out his fair share of assists as well. He is third on the team with 19 assists this season, three behind Thomas and one behind Kyrou.

The bottom line is, Tarasenko, whether he likes it or not, has played his way onto the Blues roster for the duration of his contract. Only an epic collapse of the Blues could force the hand of general manager Doug Armstrong to grant Tarasenko’s wish to trade him.

St. Louis Blues fans should count themselves lucky that Armstrong could not find a trade partner over the offseason. There’s no question that St. Louis would not be in the position they are without him.

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