NHL Rumors: 4 Teams Interested In Blues' Tarasenko

The St. Louis Blues took a massive step back from last season which has caused them to be one of the main teams surrounded in trade rumours. The most valuable of their trade assets if they do stay out of reach of a playoff spot is Vladimir Tarasenko, and there are more than enough teams interested in acquiring him. The Fourth Period lists four teams that could have interest in Tarasenko - New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and New Jersey Devils.

It's no secret the Islanders are looking to bolster their forward group as they have a mix of very young talent and aging veterans. They are still in their window to compete for a Stanley Cup as long as Ilya Sorokin is playing like the best goaltender in the NHL. That being said, Tarasenko is among one of the high-level forwards that can score who the Islanders are looking to acquire. They will get one of these top players around the league this season if they are this invested and serious.

The Avalanche are an interesting team to note, as Tarasenko is a winger and the team needs a second line centre when healthy. But what could be done is move Mikko Rantanen to the second line centre and have him and Nathan MacKinnon centre the first two lines. Rantanen has done well in MacKinnon's absence centering the first line and it would give the team a big threat on both lines while Tarasenko and his goal-scoring ability could slide in the top-six somewhere.

Nobody on the Flames is at a point-per-game this season while many forwards have struggled to produce consistently. Players who are underperforming this season worth pointing out are Jonathan Huberdeau, Milan Lucic, Andrew Mangiapane, and Blake Coleman. All four of these players play on the wing, which makes the need for an addition like Tarasenko much larger. Not only is he a sniper and could get Huberdeau going, Tarasenko has shown his ability to also tally a lot of assists. He would be a big difference in the playoff race.

The Devils are looking to move out Damon Severson and possibly a forward to clear space for a high-end forward addition at the trade deadline. Tarasenko would fit perfectly as there is a place for him in the top-six which would allow some of the current wingers to shift down and play where they're more comfortable. It would be a needed addition considering the rest of the teams in their division have caught them and it's not easy sailing to the playoffs.