Tarasov, 23, who was selected by the Blue Jackets in the third round, 86th overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut during the 2021-22 season. He appeared in four games, including three starts, and registered an 0-2-0 record with a 2.40 goals-against average and .937 save percentage while turning aside 104-of-111 shots-against. He set a club record for the most saves in an NHL debut when he stopped 34-of-37 shots in a 3-2 loss on December 2 at Dallas. The netminder missed the final 52 games of the campaign due to a hip injury suffered on January 1 against Carolina.
"Daniil is a big, athletic goaltender who exhibits great poise and calmness in net," said Kekalainen. "We were very impressed with his play last season before he was injured and are excited to see him continue to develop and grow in the years ahead."
A native of Novokuznetsk, Russia, Tarasov has also gone 9-3-5 with a 3.09 GAA and .894 SV% in 17 games with the Cleveland Monsters since making his American Hockey League debut at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. He went 5-3-3 with a 3.06 GAA and .893 SV% in 11 appearances in 2021-22, winning five-straight contests and posting a 2.18 GAA and .920 SV% from November 12-26.
The 6-5, 196-pound netminder went 11-4-3 with a 2.13 GAA, .924 SV% and two shutouts in 18 career games with Ufa in Russia's KHL from 2018-21. He registered a 11-3-2 record with a 2.07 GAA, .925 SV% and two shutouts in 16 games with the club in 2020-21, ranking 10th in the league in SV% and 11th in GAA. He spent the 2019-20 campaign with Assat in Finland's top professional league (Liiga), finishing with a 11-17-9 record, 2.72 GAA, .899 SV% and a shutout in 41 contests. The goaltender was named the Best Rookie in Russia's second professional league (VHL) in 2018-19 after finishing with a 17-6-2 record, 1.71 GAA and .928 SV% in 17 appearances with Toros Neftekamsk.
Tarasov has suited up for Russia at several international events. He posted a 2-0-0 record with a 2.80 GAA in three appearances to help the team win a bronze medal at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championships and went 2-1-0 with a 2.11 GAA and .921 SV% in five appearances at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championships.
FULL DANIIL TARASOV STATISTICS
