3-way “battle” currently underway for disgruntled Blues star Vladimir Tarasenko

It looks like disgruntled St. Louis Blues star Vladimir Tarasenko will indeed soon find himself playing outside of the only NHL home that he's ever known. 

Tarasenko raised more than a few eyebrows when he requested a trade from the Blues, as first published last month by Jeremy Rutherford, the Blues reporter for The Athletic. Rutherford also reports that Blues GM Doug Armstrong is attempting to facilitate a move that would benefit both sides.

Tarasenko, who is about to enter the the seventh year of an eight-year, $60 million contract, is reportedly unhappy with the way the team handled his shoulder surgical procedures, leading to a lack of trust between the two parties. 

Could he soon end up in the Atlantic Northeast? According to one notable source, that's a possibility, and it looks as though a 3-way bidding war is underway. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, and New York Rangers are currently engaged "in a battle" for Tarasenko's services: 

"It sounds like there's progress in this particular process trying to get Tarasenko out of St. Louis and to a new club. Now, we've been hearing a lot of different teams that have entered the mix that have gone out of it. Doesn't sound like Philly's there at this stage. The New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils are kind of in a battle here, all three teams have interest," Pagnotta said on the NHL Network on Sunday.

Tarasenko was drafted by the Blues with the 16th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, and has been a consistent goal scorer since bursting onto the scene during the 2012-13 NHL Season. His best campaign came in 2015-16, during which he scored a career high 40 goals. However, shoulder injuries have limited him to a mere 34 games the past two seasons. The Blues also left him unprotected in the recent NHL Expansion Draft for the Seattle Kraken, though they elected not to take him. 

He contributed 11 goals and six assists during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs as he helped the Blues to their first Stanley Cup win in franchise history.