Blues sign Vladimir Tarasenko to eight-year, $60 million contract
The St. Louis Blues signed forward Vladimir Tarasenko to an eight-year, $60 million contract, the team announced on Tuesday.
Tarasenko, 23, scored 37 goals with 36 assists in 77 games for the Blues last season, becoming the youngest St. Louis player to record a 30-goal season since Brendan Shanahan scored 33 in the 1991–1992 season as a 23-year-old. Tarasenko was also the first Blues player to record 73 points since Pavol Demitra in 2002–2003.
Tarasenko also made his first All-Star appearance last month and was named the NHL’s Second Star for November, when he recorded 10 goals and 17 assists over 15 games.
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The Blues selected Tarasenko, a Yaroslavl, Russia, native, with No. 16 pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Over his three seasons with St. Louis, Tarasenko has recorded 66 goals and 69 assists in 179 games.
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The Blues finished 51–24–7 last season, second in the Western Conference, before losing to the Minnesota Wild in the conference quarterfinals in six games.
- Mike Fiammetta