Tarasenko could return on upcoming road trip

Vladimir Tarasenko's return is fast approaching.
It might even happen on the team's upcoming six-game West Coast road trip.
"Yeah, there's a good chance (he plays)," Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said Friday. "I would say so, yeah."

Tarasenko took some reps on a line with Brayden Schenn and David Perron in Friday's practice at Centene Community Ice Center.
"I put him on a line today because he is getting close," Berube said. "I want him to go with a line and see how he looks and get some reps there… He's itching and ready to go, too. It's been awhile for him, and a long road. He's done a real good job of conditioning and doing what he had to do to be in shape, with rehab and everything. The credit goes to him and the training staff of our hockey team."
Tarasenko played in just two games in last season's first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks in Edmonton. He had his shoulder surgically-repaired in October 2019 and required surgery again in August 2020.

"It really boils down to doctor's clearance, the trainer's clearance," Berube said of when Tarasenko will return. "Then it's up to the player to decide from a mental standpoint if he's ready to play. When a player comes to me and says he's ready to play and he's cleared, I put him in.
"Vladi is a great player, he's been a great scorer in this League for a long time," Berube added. "To be honest, he just needs to go out, work hard and compete and give us that. His skill and things will take over… He just needs to focus on how hard he's working and how hard he's competing out there. I can't give you expectations. I hope he comes back, gets hot right away and scores goals for us."