It was clear early final season that Columbus Blue Jackets coaches had misplaced confidence in goaltender Daniil Tarasov, permitting him to take a seat for lengthy stretches of video games and later calling up Jet Greaves from the minor leagues when starter Elvis Merzlikins wanted a relaxation.
It made for an unsure future in Columbus for Tarasov, and it got here to an finish on Thursday.
The Blue Jackets traded Tarasov to the Florida Panthers for a fifth-round choose (No. 160 general) on this weekend’s NHL draft, the primary of what could possibly be a number of strikes for second-year Columbus normal supervisor Don Waddell over the following week or so.
“On behalf of the Blue Jackets, I’d prefer to thank Daniil for his contributions to our group over the previous 4 years,” Waddell mentioned in an announcement. “He’s an impressive younger man, and we want he and his household properly sooner or later.”
The Blue Jackets have been taking part in to increase a qualifying provide to Tarasov, a restricted free agent, nevertheless it has been clear for the reason that finish of final season — when Greaves went on a sizzling streak within the closing week of the season — that Greaves had supplanted Tarasov on the depth chart.
It could possibly be a part of a dramatic change at that place for the Blue Jackets.
Merzlikins nonetheless has two years remaining on a contract that carries a $5.4 million cap hit however he’s been, statistically, one of many worst goaltenders within the NHL over the past three seasons. It’s unclear if Waddell may commerce him — it might take a artistic package deal — or the membership may contemplate a contract buyout.
Daniil Tarasov = brick wall 🧱
👉 https://t.co/EcoaWZ7Lv9@ADS__Inc | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/8UVwkl1sNA
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) May 4, 2023
The commerce should have happy Tarasov. Not solely does he get a change of surroundings and an opportunity to remain within the NHL, however he’s in line to be Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup with the Panthers, who’ve received two straight Stanley Cup championships. Bobrovsky and Tarasov are each from Novokuznetsk, Russia.
Tarasov has usually spoken brazenly about his admiration for Bobrovsky, who spent seven seasons with the Blue Jackets — successful two Vezina trophies because the NHL’s prime goaltender, together with a franchise-record 213 video games — earlier than departing after the 2019 season.
The commerce additionally is smart on one other degree: Florida GM Invoice Zito, who was an assistant GM in Columbus earlier than taking the job with the Panthers in 2020, was a part of the Blue Jackets administration group that drafted Tarasov with a third-round choose (No. 86 general) in 2017.
Tarasov, 26, was 19-34-6 with a .898 save proportion and three.44 goals-against common in 65 video games for the Blue Jackets, together with 61 begins.
On Jan. 18, Tarasov made 26 saves within the Blue Jackets’ 1-0 extra time loss to the New York Rangers in Madison Sq. Backyard, changing into the primary NHL goaltender to earn his first profession shutout and endure a loss in the identical sport.
(Photograph of Daniil Tarasov: Jason Mowry / Getty Photographs)
