Vladimir Tarasenko trade: Who won the Blues and Rangers deal?

Blues grade: C

The biggest thing to note is that the Blues will likely be getting a first and a third out of this trade when all is said and done, since the Rangers will most certainly make the playoffs and fulfill the pick condition. That being said, it’s hard not to feel underwhelmed by this return if you’re a Blues fan. The draft picks are good, but the rest is a mixed bag.

Blais played 54 games with the Rangers over the last two seasons and ended his time with zero goals and nine total points. That’s all while playing an average of 10 minutes a night, mind you. Hopefully returning to St. Louis — who drafted him in 2014 — will do Blais good, but you kind of know what you’re getting with him by now.

Skinner, on the other hand, is a fourth round pick who has yet to play in the NHL, so it’s hard to gauge his impact going forward.

At the very least, the Blues are now in a great spot to lose a lot of games and boost their lottery pick potential in the spring. Having two first round picks this season in a deep draft is solid work, but the Blues definitely get the short end of the stick here in this trade given the immediate impact Tarasenko will have on his new, playoff-bound team.