Tarasenko flashes old form at All-Star Game, has 4 points for Central

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Vladimir Tarasenko regained his elite offensive form in the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game at FLA Live Arena on Saturday, a reminder to the rest of the League that a high-caliber scorer could be available before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline on March 3.

The St. Louis Blues forward, a potential unrestricted free agent after the season, had four points (one goal, three assists) for the Central Division in the first All-Star Game semifinal, a 6-4 win against the Pacific Division. The Central then lost to the Atlantic Division 7-5 in the final.
"I remember watching Tarasenko] when I was 15 or 16," Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson said. "I always admired his release and shot. I didn't think a lot of guys in the NHL had that deception, the way he could just pick corners. So, I always admired it -- a little less now that we play against him -- but he's always had that. He showed it off today, and wherever [he goes] and whatever he does, he's going to continue to do that."
Tarasenko said earlier this week he remains hopeful the Blues will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and is trying not to think about whether he will be moved before the deadline.
"I'm focused on the games," Tarasenko
[said at NHL All-Star Game Media Day on Thursday
. "I don't think I should waste my time and energy to be focused on things I cannot control. You can ask [general manager Doug Armstrong] what's going to happen."
Tarasenko has 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) this season but has been limited to 38 of the Blues' 51 games because of a hand injury sustained Dec. 31. He returned Jan. 24 but has not had a point in his first four games back.

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."