With the trade deadline less than a month away, the New York Rangers acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, in exchange for a conditional 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick, forward Sammy Blais, and prospect D-man Hunter Skinner. Forward Sammy Blais returns to the Blues, the team that drafted him in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL draft.

Blues manager Craig Berube told reporters after Thursday’s practice: ‘Tough situation, for sure Obviously we haven’t performed well enough. That’s what happens: Trades are made. Both of them have been good players for us.’ The 31-year-old Tarasenko, who requested a trade from the Blues about 2 years ago, will be joining a Rangers team that has been in need of a scoring winger.  He has dealt with some injury trouble this season that has kept him out of the lineup but currently has 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 38 games.

Rangers general manager Chris Drury also told reporters: ‘It’s something we’ve been looking at for a while It gives the two new players a little more time to acclimate to our group, so excited to do it now and get them in the lineup.’

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