Tarasenko traded to Panthers by Senators for 2 draft picks

Vladimir Tarasenko was traded to the Florida Panthers by the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a third-round choice in the 2025 NHL Draft.

If the Panthers win the Stanley Cup, they will transfer their third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in lieu of the 2024 selection.

Tarasenko signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Senators, who will retain 50 percent of his salary, on July 27 and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

"I guess with the position we're in and 'Vlady' becoming a UFA, it was prudent for us to be able to look around and make a move to gain some assets moving forward," Senators general manager Steve Staios said. "I'm happy with the return. I'm happy that Vlady gets to go home, and his family had been there the entire year, so he gets to play on a very good team and have an opportunity and he's close to home again."

The 32-year-old forward has 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 57 games this season and joins a team that already had seven double-digit goal-scorers, led by Sam Reinhart (45), Carter Verhaeghe (30) and Matthew Tkachuk (21). He also owns a home in South Florida.

"I don't think about it," Tarasenko said Feb. 12 regarding trade speculation. "I think about the game tomorrow, I think about things today. You know, if you focus on the past and the future too much, you just lose the present time, lose excitement, and being stressed out every time. I may think about it sometimes, yeah, but mostly try to set it away and prepare for the coming games."