Vladimir Tarasenko flips out when asked about trade demands

Last summer, it was revealed that Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko had demanded a trade out of St. Louis. We all know how nothing happened as he stayed with the club throughout the entire 2021-22 campaign, prompting fans to believe that the Russian forward might have changed his mind about leaving the team.

However, it is believed that Tarasenko is standing by the trade request despite a career-best 84-point performance in 2021-22. He is slated to become unrestricted free agents next July.

Questions emerged on if Tarasenko was truly considering a trade out of St. Louis, but when Jim Thomas for the Post-Dispatch asked him about it after the Blues’ preseason game on Thursday night, Tarasenko got upset.

“For real, you asking me this on the first day? … I’m not going to answer it. This can go both ways. I’m focused on the season now and I’m excited to be here, that’s it.”

Tarasenko is the one who asked out, but now refuses to answer the questions on his demands. We get that he might want to wait out and see how the 2022-23 season unfolds, but there is a belief, from Jim Thomas notably, that he should have faced and answered the questions. This is what the reporter stated when some fans complained about the nature of his question.

“Tarasenko rarely talks to us these days; who knows when we’ll talk with him again. He’s the one that asked to be traded - it’s not something concocted by the media. He needs to be asked about it.”

Well, he was indeed asked, but did not provide an answer… The Blues might shop Tarasenko as a rental player at next year’s trade deadline if they’re out of the postseason chase by then.

But for now, Tarasenko is expected to be in the lineup once the puck drops for the Blues against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 15.