By Canadian Press

Reports: First-place Panthers acquire forward Tarasenko from struggling Senators

Mar 6, 2024 | 10:52 AM

OTTAWA — It appears the NHL-leading Florida Panthers gave their offence some scoring punch on Wednesday by reportedly acquiring veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators receive two draft picks in return — a fourth-round selection this year (third round if the Panthers win the Stanley Cup) and a third-round pick in 2025, according to multiple media reports.

Ottawa also retains 50 per cent of Tarasenko’s remaining salary. The Senators signed Tarasenko to a one-year, US$5-million contract in July which included a full no-trade clause.

Tarasenko, who will be a free agent after this season, goes from a team labouring near the Eastern Conference standings to a squad with a good chance of helping the Russian forward earn a second Stanley Cup ring.

The Panthers, runners-up to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Stanley Cup final, entered Wednesday on a six-game winning streak and with a league-best 43-16-4 record.

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In Tarasenko, the Panthers get a reliable top-6 forward who can boost an offence ranked ninth in the league with 211 goals.

The 32-year-old from Yaroslavl has 17 goals and 24 assists in 57 games with Ottawa this season and 297 goals and 328 assists over 732 career games with St. Louis Blues, the New York Rangers and Ottawa.

He won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2018-19.

The Senators had lost four straight entering Wednesday and were last in the Atlantic Division at 25-31-3.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2024.

The Canadian Press