Senators' Tarasenko Being Linked To Western Conference Contender

The Ottawa Senators have proven that this isn't their year once again as they sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. That being said, they do have some good assets they can sell off at the trade deadline in order to help bounce back for next season. The team will most definitely be shopping Vladimir Tarasenko most of all as he is a UFA at the end of the season and has a cap hit of $5 million AAV.

One of the main teams being linked to Tarasenko is the Edmonton Oilers. They just recently recalled Dylan Holloway and signed Corey Perry, but these are bottom-six additions. Some think that there is still room to make an addition to the top-six on the wing and Tarasenko would fit in very nicely.

Leon Draisaitl could use some more help and someone to feed him the puck. While Tarasenko used to be defined as a sniper and can still shoot the puck very well, he has rounded out his offense to be able to feed the puck to his linemates very effectively. During another down season for the Senators, Tarasenko has managed 12 goals and 31 points in 40 games. He is no point-per-game player despite scoring at that pace a couple of seasons ago. What he will provide is scoring and has done that throughout his entire career.

Tarasenko has also won the Stanley Cup and has that experience to bring to the Oilers' locker room. The Oilers are going to have to go for it every season with their two elite centermen under contract, and there aren't very many players who would be a better upgrade at the trade deadline this season for Edmonton if they were to add a top-six forward.