Ex-Ranger Tarasenko taking talents to Fla.
The NHL’s best team is beefing up the same way the Rangers did last year, by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko.
The Panthers acquired Tarasenko from the Senators on Wednesday, two days before the NHL trade deadline. Ottawa will receive a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick, and will retain half of Tarasenko’s remaining salary.
The 32-year-old has 17 goals and 24 assists in 57 games this season and will add another weapon to an already dangerous Panthers attack.
The Rangers acquired Tarasenko from the Blues ahead of last year’s deadline, along with Patrick Kane, and the Russian had eight goals and 13 assists in 31 regular-season games before recording three goals and an assist in the Rangers’ seven-game series loss to the Devils.
He then signed a oneyear, $5 million contract with the Senators.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Vegas is trading for Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin, according to a Sportsnet report. The return to Calgary is not yet fully known, though Daniil Miromanov is reported to be heading to Canada.
The delay on the trade is a result of negotiations with a third team to help with salary retention, according to Sportsnet. Vegas also acquired Washington winger Anthony Mantha on Tuesday.
OILERS: Connor McDavid’s squad added a pair of centers in Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from Anaheim.
Henrique is a top center rental, and Edmonton’s deal for him was complicated, sending its firstrounder this year and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025 to Anaheim and a 2026 fourth-rounder to Tampa Bay for retaining a quarter of his salary. The ’25 pick becomes a fourth if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup.
AVALANCHE: Colorado loaded up by getting defenseman Sean Walker from Philadelphia and center Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo in separate deals.
Colorado traded a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick and center Ryan Johansen to Philadelphia for Walker and a fifth-rounder in 2026 and got Mittelstadt in a one-for-one trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Sabres. After taking on Johansen’s contract, which has $4 million annually left on it through next season, the Flyers immediately put him on waivers.