The Ottawa Senators are trading veteran scorer Vladimir Tarasenko to the league-leading Florida Panthers, marking the first significant transaction under rookie general manager Steve Staios.
The Senators will receive a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2024 and a third-round pick in 2025 in the trade. The 2024 pick will upgrade to a third-round pick in 2026 if the Panthers win the Stanley Cup this year.
The 32-year-old signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Senators before the season but has become expendable with Ottawa outside the playoff race at the trade deadline.
The Senators will retain 50 per cent of Tarasenko's salary in the trade. Tarasenko had a no-trade clause that needed to be waived to complete the trade.
The Panthers are currently sitting first in their division, conference and the league overall with 90 points.
Tarasenko has scored more than 30 goals six times in his career but has just 17 goals and 41 points in 57 games this season. He was brought in to Ottawa to replace Alex DeBrincat's production after DeBrincat was traded to the Red Wings, but the Senators disappointed this season and are on track to miss the playoffs for the seventh-straight season.
The Senators are set to face the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night and forward Matthew Highmore was recalled from the AHL's Belleville Senators, seemingly as Tarasenko's replacement.
Highmore, 28, has spent the majority of this season in Belleville, where he has recorded 29 points (nine goals and 20 assists) in 40 games.
In six appearances with Ottawa this season, he has one assist.
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