Vladimir Tarasenko has played his last game with Ottawa!

The Ottawa Senators are in action later tonight against the Ducks in Anaheim, but it sounds like forward Vladimir Tarasenko will not be part of the team’s lineup for trade-related issues.

It appears that Tarasenko has played his last game with the Senators as he will sit out tonight’s contest while Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that trade talks with the contending Florida Panthers have intensified.

Several teams have been linked to the Russian forward especially since he is reportedly open to waive his no-trade clause to join a Stanley Cup contender. He is even believed to be interested in joining the Panthers, which means we could have a trade to confirm soon. According to Senators insider Bruce Garrioch, other clubs are also pushing, notably the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. 

Contenders have been looking for a boost up front and most are focused on acquiring Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jake Guentzel, who comes at a hefty price tag, including a first-round pick, young NHL player, and prospects back in the deal. The pending unrestricted free agent carries a cap hit of $6 million on his expiring deal. With 22 goals and 52 points in 50 games, the coveted winger was the Penguins’ top star before getting hurt back in February. He appears to be nearing a return, but that could come with a new team after Friday’s deadline.

Last spring, Tarasenko was traded to the Blue Shirts along with Niko Mikkola in exchange for for Hunter Skinner , Sammy Blais , conditional round 1 pick in the 2023 draft ( Theo Lindstein ) and conditional round 4 pick in the 2024 draft.

Tarasenko has put up 17 goals, 24 assists and 41 points in 57 games in his first season with Ottawa after inking a one-year, $5MM contract that contains a no-trade clause. And it looks like he won’t be putting on that Senators’ jersey again.

Some are even starting to see where Tarasenko could fit in Florida. Stay tuned…

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