Report: Blues' Tarasenko requests trade, doesn't trust club

Vladimir Tarasenko has requested a trade from the St. Louis Blues and the team is working on moving the sniper, The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford reports.

Tarasenko asked to be dealt earlier this offseason. He's upset over how the Blues handled two of his three shoulder surgeries, and the veteran no longer trusts the club, sources told Rutherford.

Team physicians operated on the five-time 30-goal scorer's shoulder in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, doctors from outside the organization performed a procedure on Tarasenko after the ligament damage from the original injury wasn't successfully fixed during the first two surgeries.

Tarasenko has only appeared in 34 regular-season games over the last two years. He recorded 14 points over 24 contests during the 2020-21 campaign before adding two goals as the Colorado Avalanche swept St. Louis in the first round.

The veteran recorded 33 goals and 35 assists over 76 games during his last healthy season in 2018-19, and he notched 10 playoff tallies while the Blues marched to their first Stanley Cup.

There are two years left on Tarasenko's current contract at a $7.5 million cap hit, according to Cap Friendly. However, he's owed $9.5 million next season, which could deter cash-strapped suitors.

The forward also holds a full no-trade clause, but Tarasenko has provided the Blues with a list of as many as 10 teams he'd waive it to join, according to Rutherford.

The Blues drafted him 16th overall in 2010. The 29-year-old has amassed 442 points over 531 games since entering the NHL in 2012-13.

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