Panthers acquire ex-Ranger Vladimir Tarasenko before NHL trade deadline

The NHL’s best team is beefing up the same way the Rangers did last year, by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko.

The Florida Panthers acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, according to multiple reports, two days before the NHL trade deadline.

Ottawa will receive a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick, and they’ll retain half of Tarasenko’s remaining salary.

The 32-year-old has 17 goals and 24 assists in 57 games this season and will add another weapon to an already dangerous Panthers attack.

The Rangers acquired Tarasenko from the Blues ahead of last year’s deadline, along with Patrick Kane, and the Russian had eight goals and 13 assists in 31 regular-season games before recording three goals and an assist in the Rangers’ seven-game series loss to the Devils.

He then signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Senators.

Ottawa made progress last season and was hoping to be in playoff contention this year, but they’re suffering through another ugly season at 25-31-3.

The Senators fired general manager Pierre Dorion in November and head coach D.J. Smith in December, naming Jacques Martin as their interim coach.

The Panthers, meanwhile, are atop the NHL standings at 90 points.

Sam Reinhart is in the midst of a career year for Florida with 45 goals and 30 assists in 63 games, and Matthew Tkachuk has 21 goals and 50 assists in 62 games.

They’ve also gotten great goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky (2.29 GAA, .918 save percentage) and Anthony Stolarz (2.07 GAA, .921 save percentage.)