By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a trade with the St. Louis Blues. The Rangers acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the Blues in exchange for forward Sammy Blais, defenseman Hunter Skinner, a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Blais, 26, appeared in five games with the Wolf Pack during his recent conditioning assignment. The native of Montmagny, QC, scored four goals in those five games. He scored a pair of goals in the Wolf Pack’s 4-3 victory over the Utica Comets on February 3rd, including the game-winner late in regulation time.
Skinner, 21, appeared in eight games with the Wolf Pack this season, scoring two assists. The native of Wyandotte, Michigan, also skated in 22 games with the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen this season, scoring eight points (3 g, 5 a).
Throughout three seasons, Skinner appeared in 67 games with the Wolf Pack. He scored 17 points (5 g, 12 a) in that span. Skinner was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 112th overall, of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Tarasenko, 31, has collected 29 points (10 g, 19 a) in 38 games with the Blues this season. A veteran of eleven NHL seasons, all with the Blues, Tarasenko has appeared in 644 career games and scored 553 points (262 g, 291 a). He has scored 30-plus goals on six different occasions in his career.
Mikkola, 26, has scored three assists in 50 games with the Blues this season. He has scored 20 points (4 g, 16 a) in 139 career NHL games throughout four seasons, all spent with the Blues.
The Wolf Pack return to the ice for the final game of their five-game homestand on Friday, February 10th, when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Join us for Military Appreciation Night, featuring specialty military jerseys! To get tickets, visit hartfordwolfpack.com.
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers’ newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
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