We all know what happened last year after the Colorado Avalanche bounced the Blues in four first-round games. Vladimir Tarasenko, who had finally successfully returned from repeated shoulder surgeries, headed to the World Championships to represent Russia. That was a confirmation that his shoulder was improving, which should’ve made Blues fans breathe a sigh of relief.
Instead, fans got treated to a blockbuster trade demand that threatened to shake the core of the team: Tarasenko, in response to the two surgeries that didn’t take, wanted to be traded. His trust with the team had been breached, and he felt a fresh start elsewhere was the best idea.