The 31-year-old also has the second-lowest shooting percentage (9.7) of his NHL career; he shot 6.2 percent in 2020-21. But his bounce-back All-Star Game performance indicates he could either turn his season around with the Blues or, if he's traded, help put another Stanley Cup Playoff contender over the top.
Tarasenko played mostly on a line with Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones in the All-Star Game; they combined for 10 points (four goals, six assists) in the first semifinal.
"He's a great playmaker and has a great shot," Jones said of Tarasenko. "We had some decent chemistry. We played well in the first game, but unfortunately couldn't get much going in the second game."
Keller, who was born in Chesterfield, Missouri, said the performance brought back memories of watching Tarasenko score at least 33 goals in five straight seasons from 2014-19. Tarasenko had an NHL career-high 82 points (34 goals, 48 assists) in 75 games last season.
"I loved watching [Tarasenko], even when I was younger," Keller said. "Being from St. Louis and a Blues fan, I remember all those times watching him scoring goals. He was young coming [into the League] when I was watching him, so it was super cool to play with him. It was great to spend some time with him -- unbelievable guy."
Mikko Rantanen, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche last season, knows the rigors of facing Tarasenko and the Blues in the postseason. The Avalanche have defeated the Blues in each of the past two playoffs, but their six-game series victory against them last season may have been the toughest test of their championship road.
"Very good player and competitor," Rantanen said of Tarasenko. "Works really hard and he's a winner too. It's been good battles against him, and to meet him off the ice too [this weekend], he's a very good guy."