Blues star forward appears bothered by reporter's focus on his rumoured trade request

Depending on who you believe, Blues star Valdimir Tarasenko may or may not have requested a trade while on injured reserve during the 2020-21 season. The vast majority of people in the know believe that he did and the reasoning behind it was that Tarasenko no longer trusted the Blues medical staff after his shoulder injuries in 2018 and 2019 were, in his opinion, minimized and mistreated.

The Russian winger reportedly rescinded his trade request ahead of the 2021-22 season. All through the season Tarasenko dodged and evaded questions about the trade request. Instead he repeated over and over that he did not want to be a distraction, and that he was, in his words "here to work." Well work he did. A healthy Tarasenko lit it up with 82 points in 75 games last season. Evidently, that wasn't enough for those in the media who were not happy with him for the rumoured trade request. With one year left on his contract, some are questioning Tarasenko's loyalty to the Blues organization.

After Thursday night's pre-season game against the Blue Jackets, Post-Dispatch reporter Jim Thomas did not mince words with the "Tarasenkshow"


It sounds like Tarasenko was worried for his health above all else. In this case, I don't see the trade request as him turning his back on the his Blues teammates, especially after he rescinded it. Time will tell whether or not Tarasenko will be suiting up with the Blues beyond this season, but reporters like Jim Thomas certainly aren't helping things is the Blues are in fact interested in retaining his services. There should be no shortage of teams interested in Tarasenko this off season, if the Blues want to be among the contenders to secure his services, it may be a good idea to start limiting access to him for reporters that clearly have a vendetta against him.