And . . . the great Retooling of 2023 is underway for the Blues.
General manager Doug Armstrong sent Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers for our old friend Sammy Blais, a first-round pick (likely in 2023), a fourth-round pick likely to upgrade to a third-round pick in ‘24, and fringe defensive prospect Hunter Skinner.
Tarasenko and Mikkola are playing with expiring contracts. Neither seemed likely to re-sign in St. Louis, so the sinking Blues traded them as rentals while starting to gather as many long-term assets as possible.
