Despite Tarasenko's tip, Blues missed out on Panarin
ST. LOUIS - When Vladimir Tarasenko came to St. Louis in 2012, he started bending the ear of coaches and management about this player in the KHL the Blues should take a closer look at.
"Instead of giving him $8 million, we should have hired him as a scout. He told us the day he got here about (Artemi) Panarin," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said as his team prepared to play the Blackhawks in Game 2 of their opening-round series Friday. "He told us at least once a month about him. I mean, they're best buds."
St. Louis, just like every other team in the NHL, failed to act in time and it was the Hawks who signed what turned out to be one of the most dynamic rookies in the league this season.
"We all look a little dumb right now," Hitchcock said.
Panarin and Tarasenko played in World Juniors together for Russia and were on the same line at times.
"It's pretty fun to play against a guy who you played (with) a long time ago," Tarasenko said. "We're really close friends in life, but no friends on the ice now."
Panarin echoed Tarasenko's thoughts last week, saying he was "very excited" to play against his former teammate.
Panarin put together a 30-goal, 47-assist campaign, which didn't surprise Tarasenko.
"I think that's how he can play every year," Tarasenko said. "I can't be happy for Blackhawks guy, but I'm really happy for him as a friend."
Some fans - and maybe some players around the league - must wonder how the Hawks were able to unearth this 5-foot-11, 180-pound lightning bolt and sign him to what initially was an extremely cap-friendly deal.
"It shows a lot about their scouting staff," said Blues winger and former Blackhawk Troy Brouwer. "All the turnover that they've had and (they are) still able to fill the roster with good, quality players that make an impact."
Considering the success the Hawks have had over the last eight seasons, does it almost seems unfair?
"Part of the game," Brouwer said. "That's what happens when you employ the right people."
Said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer when San Jose played at the United Center on Feb. 9: "Good players want to play for good teams and have a chance to win. I look (at it) more as that's a responsibility of the other organizations, including ours, to make sure that we're in that conversation."
Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter also agreed with Brouwer and DeBoer.
"Give the Chicago Blackhawks a lot of credit for going to get that player and … fitting him into a cap situation like they did," Sutter said. "He's probably not only the rookie of the year, but he could get a lot of votes for other awards too."