The Panthers acquired Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline last season to add depth to their forward group as well as a veteran presence who had already been where the Panthers were trying to go. Tarasenko already had one Stanley Cup win under his belt, winning it all with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.

When the Florida Panthers acquired Vladimir Tarasenko at the NHL Trade Deadline last March, it was like reacquiring an old teammate. For many on the team, Tarasenko was considered an honorary Panther.